Tobacco & Nicotine
Why is this important to family physicians?
Smoking causes significant morbidity and mortality in the United States.
What recently happened on this topic?
Since the Illinois indoor smoking ban in 2008 and Tobacco 21 implementation in 2019, more recent legislative and regulatory discussions have revolved around state and local initiatives regarding electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). In particular, the Illinois legislature and various municipalities have considered bans on flavored ENDS; IAFP supports these bans because ENDS are "another tool of addiction to a chemical - nicotine - that negatively impacts brain development" and any flavor increases "attraction for these harmful and addictive products", see IAFP testimony by former President Javette C. Orgain, MD, MPH, FAAFP.
Most recently, legislation was debated in the Illinois legislature regarding a ban on flavored tobacco, with IAFP and other medical groups supporting such a ban, see Senate Bill 3854; see also IAFP Flavored Tobacco Statement (Oct. 2019).