Read articles from North America

February 26, 2024 by deseret.com

A bill in Utah aims to ban most flavored e-cigarettes to reduce teen vaping, but vape shop owners fear it will benefit Big Tobacco. Senate's Dr. Plumb introduced SB61 to combat teenage nicotine use. Despite e-cigarettes being seen as safer, they pose health risks. The ban targets flavors popular with teens. Menthol, associated with increased addiction, is still legal. Opponents argue the ban limits adult access and harms businesses. Plumb stated the bill aims to protect young people. Despite protests against the bill, it passed the Senate and is awaiting final approval. Adjustments may be needed for affected businesses.

February 22, 2024 by bigislandnow.com

The Hawaiʻi State Department of Health and Hawaiʻi Public Health Institute have relaunched the Stronger Together campaign to address youth vaping in the state, focusing on tobacco industry strategies targeting young people. Most high school students who vape are in Hawai‘i County, with percentages in other counties ranging from 13% to 22%. Counties are seeking authority to regulate tobacco sales following the removal of this ability in 2018. The tobacco industry's marketing impact costs Hawaiʻi millions annually.

February 21, 2024 by news-medical.net

A recent study published in Nicotine & Tobacco Research reveals that banning menthol cigarettes can significantly decrease smoking rates. Menthol cigarettes pose public health concerns as they make it easier to start smoking, increase nicotine absorption, and hinder quitting efforts. Globally, menthol cigarette usage varies, with a high prevalence among young people, minorities, and low-income individuals. Research indicates that national bans are more effective than local ones, leading to higher quit rates. The study supports the US FDA's proposal to ban menthol cigarettes, highlighting the harm caused by the delay in implementing the ban, especially among Black communities.

February 21, 2024 by medicalxpress.com

A study led by Gilbert Gimm at Mason's College of Public Health found that adolescents and young adults with cognitive disabilities have a higher prevalence of nicotine vaping compared to those without disabilities. The study also links major depressive episodes (MDEs) to vaping in this population. Researchers stress the need for support and early interventions for at-risk youth. Data from the study, published in Addictive Behaviors, suggests screening for depression as a risk factor for e-cigarette use among students with disabilities.

February 21, 2024 by theglobeandmail.com

It was one of the most successful public health campaigns in history: starting in the 1960s, Canadian governments began educating the public about the link between cancer and smoking, and then creating regulations on the marketing and branding of cigarettes. This effort shifted society, and smoking prevalence in Canada fell from 50 per cent in 1965 to under 11 per cent in 2021. Offices, restaurants, bars and even many parks are now smoke-free – all of which would have been unthinkable a few decades ago. The prevention campaigns that exist are working, and most people aren’t smokers.

February 20, 2024 by tobaccoreporter.com

The nicotine market in North America is evolving, with vape and oral sales rising while traditional combustibles still dominate. Major tobacco companies are shifting toward next-gen products, impacting combustible sales. The U.S. nicotine market is forecasted to reach $107.5 billion by 2024, with e-cigarettes projected to generate $8.8 billion. Nicotine pouches are also growing, with the U.S. market expected to reach $11.03 billion by 2027. In Canada, the market is smaller but growing, with nicotine sales projected at $12.3 billion in 2024.

February 20, 2024 by gfn.tv

THR advocates and researchers continue to analyse the fallout from #COP10FCTC, and its implications for millions of users of safer products around the globe. In this special episode of GFN News, Brent Stafford of Regulator Watch asked leading THR experts at the Good COP / Bad COP event in Panama for their response to the events of #COP10FCTC.

February 15, 2024 by rstreet.org

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established the Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) to regulate the tobacco and nicotine market and reduce health risks. One of their priorities is understanding the impact of flavored tobacco and nicotine products like e-cigarettes and snus. The CTP must consider both sides of the debate - opponents believe flavored products encourage vaping among adults and minors, acting as a gateway to traditional cigarettes, while proponents argue they help people switch from combustible cigarettes to safer alternatives.

February 15, 2024 by reuters.com

A Missouri-based maker of menthol-flavored e-cigarette liquids on Wednesday urged a federal appeals court to revive its application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to continue selling its products, saying the agency had not given it fair notice of what approval would require. The appeal by SWT Global Supply Inc is one of a slew of similar cases by e-cigarette companies in the wake of the FDA's rule deeming e-cigarette products to be subject to the same law as cigarettes, and the agency's subsequent denial of millions of applications by manufacturers to sell their products.

February 14, 2024 by newsfromthestates.com

Gallivanting to Attleboro is the low-effort way for Rhode Islanders to evade the state’s cigarette tax. In Massachusetts, you’ll pay $3.51 in tax for a 20-pack of cigarettes. In Rhode Island, you’ll pay $4.25 for the same — the fourth highest cigarette tax in the nation, outpaced only by Connecticut ($4.35), Washington, D.C. ($4.50) and New York ($5.35). The state’s rank would climb to second place under Gov. Dan McKee’s proposed budget for fiscal 2025. McKee is calling to raise the tax by another 25 cents, starting Sept. 1, 2024, a move that would squeeze out an extra $2.4 million in state revenue.