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Recently, Portland joined Bangor in passing a city-wide ordinance to end the sale of flavored tobacco products. I’m thankful that municipalities are protecting the health of our kids. However, as a pediatrician, parent and proud Mainer, I hope to see legislation follow suit.
Flavored tobacco products, with names like Sugar Cookie, Mango Mania and Fruity Pebbles lure kids and hook them on the high doses of nicotine that these products deliver. Based on the latest Maine data, one out of every four Maine teens is an e-cigarette user, with four out of five teens saying that the first product they ever used was a flavored one.
E-cigarettes and other forms of tobacco products are extremely harmful to developing brains and lungs. Additionally, some studies suggest that e-cigarette use could increase the likelihood that young people will turn to other addictive substances.
Parents, teachers and pediatricians need help protecting Maine’s kids from tobacco addiction. I urge our state legislators to take flavored tobacco products off the shelves to help ensure a brighter future for our children and our state.
Abby Markham
Scarborough