It was a historic day as Mayor DeBlasio, the mayor of the largest city in America, NYC, signed into law a complete flavor ban on all e-cigarette and vaping products (to take effect 7/20). We testified in the NY City Council Health Committee hearing in January and less than a year later this “intro” has become a law!
PAVe is grateful to The New York City Council, Mayor de Blasio, Speaker Johnson and Councilman Mark Levine, true champions for New York City children and families. We are proud that New York City will set an example for the rest of New York State, and the country, by banning the e-cigarette flavors that are hooking our kids and thus creating a new generation of a nicotine addicts.
As a national, grassroots organization founded in 2018 by three moms as a response to the current youth vaping epidemic, the most serious adolescent public health crisis our country has faced in decades, we know first hand the toll that this youth e-cigarette epidemic is taking on families across the city. We are committed to keeping these predatory e-cigarette companies away from our kids.
E-cigarette companies, like JUUL and many others, have used flavors and targeted social-media marketing to entice children to purchase their products. We know that 97% of kids who use e-cigarettes, use a flavored product. Flavors entice children to try the product and prevent them from perceiving danger. This has led, in large part, to the youth vaping epidemic affecting so many families in New York City and around the country. The data is clear that vaping has serious negative impacts on children’s long-term health. The use of e-cigarettes in adolescents can cause anxiety, depression, mood disorders, and cause permanent cognitive change to an adolescent’s developing brain and create pathways for further addiction. Additionally, kids who vape are four times more likely to smoke combustible cigarettes.
We were proud to be included in the ceremony with @nycmayor @marklevinenyc @nychealthy @nycsheriffdsa_ @tobaccofreekids @nycsmokefree @acscan_ny @ahanewyorkcity @lungassociation @students_against_vaping @ New York City Hall