Read articles from United States of America

October 06, 2020 by filtermag.org

On September 9, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published their latest findings on vaping prevalence among youth. The total number of US youth who vape has declined by almost 2 million, with an estimated 3.6 million middle or high school students now vaping. According to CDC Director Robert Redfield, the decline in the number of youth who use e-cigarettes is an “achievement.” However, he quickly pivoted to a negative tone.

“Although the decline in e-cigarette use among our Nation’s youth is a notable public health achievement, our work is far from over,” said Redfield in a press statement. [...]

October 05, 2020 by nytimes.com

For two years, New Jersey lawmakers had failed to mobilize enough support to pass a bill to fully legalize marijuana. Instead, they agreed in December to put the question directly to voters: “Do you approve amending the Constitution to legalize a controlled form of marijuana called ‘cannabis’?”

Then March roared in, and the world turned upside down.

The coronavirus took a firm hold in the United States and Black Lives Matter protesters filled streets from coast to coast.

October 05, 2020 by eurekalert.org

Most parents know or suspect when their child smokes, but they are much more likely to be in the dark if the child vapes or uses other tobacco products, according to a large national study by researchers at UC San Francisco.

The study, which tracked more than 23,000 participants aged 12 to 17 years old, found that parents or guardians were substantially less likely to report knowing or suspecting that their child had used tobacco if the child used only e-cigarettes, non-cigarette combustible products or smokeless tobacco, compared to smoking cigarettes or using multiple tobacco products.

October 02, 2020 by eurekalert.org

In 2009, the Food and Drug Administration banned numerous cigarette flavors, from chocolate to cherry to cinnamon, in an effort to decrease their attractiveness to young people. But it did not ban menthol flavoring. Now, the FDA is considering whether to ban the minty flavor, and a researcher at Stephenson Cancer Center at OU Medicine is conducting a study that will help inform that decision.

Tobacco regulatory science researcher Amy Cohn, Ph.D., received a $1.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health and the FDA Center for Tobacco Products for her study, [...]

October 02, 2020 by prnewswire.co.uk

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the world today. Globally, 7 million people die every year from tobacco use, and the number is projected to increase to 8 million if the pattern of smoking doesn't change. These disturbing statistics are being noted by companies with experience and interest in working to make a difference in the world and provide effective ways to support and help smokers quit. One of those companies, Kaival Brands Innovations Group Inc. (OTCQB: KAVL) (KAVL Profile), recently announced it had acquired a patent for a synthetic nicotine and synthetic nicotine addiction therapy products; [...]

October 01, 2020 by zmescience.com

An increasing number of baby boomers in the United States are now using cannabis, a trend that is especially true among men, according to a recent study. About 5% of men and women aged 55 or older used marijuana or hashish in 2018, the authors reported.

Once shun and very frowned upon by society, recreational marijuana use is now not only deemed socially acceptable, it’s even legal in one way or the other in 33 states in the country.

September 30, 2020 by mirror.co.uk

Researchers from the University of California, Irvine, have warned that e-cigarettes with heating elements can cause ‘significant’ damage to the lungs.

[...]

While conducting experiments, the researchers found that people who used e-cigarettes with nickel-chromium alloy heating elements experienced lung injury.

Dr Robert Kloner, senior author of the study, said: “The results were so impactful, we felt it imperative to release the initial findings early so that electronic cigarette users could be cautioned sooner, especially considering E-cigarette users are at increased risk of COVID-19.”

September 29, 2020 by radioiowa.com

With e-cigarette use in Iowa high schools considered at epidemic levels, the American Lung Association is launching a new effort designed to reduce vaping by teens — and even younger.

Alyssa DePhillips, health promotions manager for the Lung Association in Iowa, says protecting lung health is vital. “We’re excited about this public awareness campaign called ‘Get Your Head Out of the Cloud!'” DePhillips says. “It’s really designed to give parents the facts about e-cigarettes and support conversations before the kids are starting to vape, or before they’re offered vapes from their friends.”

September 29, 2020 by afr.com

At the National Press Club’s health policy debate during last year’s federal election, Greg Hunt was asked by Tim Shaw – yes, the Demtel guy – “when will you authorise the vaping product alternative [to cigarettes]?”

Hunt responded unequivocally: “That is not something that on my watch I’m willing to countenance”, “It’s not something I support”, [...] Given that authorising vaping was not something Hunt was willing to countenance so long as he was the Health Minister, it was a rude shock when in March 2020, his department and the Therapeutic Goods Administration sought to do so – by allowing nicotine vapes to be sold from a pharmacy [...]

September 28, 2020 by deseret.com

SALT LAKE CITY — Six months after medical marijuana became legal for purchase inside Utah for the first time, the program has already surpassed enrollment projections.

But high demand has also led to shortages in both product and providers interested in recommending medical marijuana to patients.

“It’s been going. It’s been going well, as with all new programs and people starting and really pushing to get up and going like they did early on — and now (producers) are starting to find their traction to be able to keep moving forward,” said Cody James, [...]