There was a lot of new, very encouraging evidence on tobacco cessation for kids, said Dr Michael Silverstein, who served on the taskforce from 2016 to March 2025, when he rotated off the committee
In countries where tobacco is cheaper, the cost benefits would be less.A recent New Zealand study said tobacco-free electronic cigarettes have proved as effective as nicotine patches at weaning smokers off their habit, but both techniques were only modestly successful.Other researchers have expressed concern that non-smokers may get hooked on nicotine through e-cigarette use, or that the gadget would keep people addicted to nicotine who might otherwise have quit.Nicotine can be harmful to children, pregnant women and adults with heart disease.The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in September noted a "deeply troubling" doubling of e-cigarette use among American teenagers, and top justice officials from 40 American states have urged the FDA to be tough in its regulation of the industry.Out of 1.78 million Americans aged 11-18 who are said to have vaped in 2012, some 160,000 had never even smoked a conventional cigarette, said the CDC
In the absence of dedicated face-to-face support, online and self-help materials have also been shown to be effective in improving a smokers chance to stop completely
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