WASHINGTON, D.C., September 12, 2018 — American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown issued the following comments on FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb’s announcement today about addressing youth e-cigarette use:

“We share the FDA’s deep concern about the epidemic of e-cigarette use among youth, but we are concerned that the steps announced today aren’t enough to reduce the number of teens smoking e-cigs. Faced with the skyrocketing popularity of e-cigs among kids and the rapidly growing number of teens addicted to nicotine, the FDA must take bold action now.

“FDA Commissioner Gottlieb should not count on the tobacco companies to implement effective methods for reducing e-cigarette use among kids. An industry that has invested millions of dollars to target kids with its dangerous products cannot be trusted to solve this growing health crisis.

“The FDA has the authority – and an obligation – to end the epidemic of youth tobacco use. Urgent steps the FDA must take include banning all flavored tobacco products; removing new products from the market that were illegally introduced absent FDA review; requiring e-cigs, cigars and other newly deemed products to submit premarket tobacco applications; and requiring child-resistant packaging.

"The American Heart Association urges the FDA to take immediate and impactful action to put kids and the epidemic of youth tobacco use."

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The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To learn more or to get involved, call

1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

For media inquiries please contact:

Steve Weiss -- 202-785-7905; steve.weiss@heart.org

For public inquiries please contact:

800-AHA-USA1 (242-8721)
heart.org and strokeassociation.org