Public Health Implications Of Raising The Minimum Age Of Legal Access To Tobacco Products
by Institute of Medicine /
2015 / English / PDF
80.6 MB Download
Tobacco use by adolescents and young adults poses serious
concerns. Nearly all adults who have ever smoked daily first
tried a cigarette before 26 years of age. Current cigarette use
among adults is highest among persons aged 21 to 25 years. The
parts of the brain most responsible for cognitive and
psychosocial maturity continue to develop and change through
young adulthood, and adolescent brains are uniquely vulnerable to
the effects of nicotine.
Tobacco use by adolescents and young adults poses serious
concerns. Nearly all adults who have ever smoked daily first
tried a cigarette before 26 years of age. Current cigarette use
among adults is highest among persons aged 21 to 25 years. The
parts of the brain most responsible for cognitive and
psychosocial maturity continue to develop and change through
young adulthood, and adolescent brains are uniquely vulnerable to
the effects of nicotine.
At the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,
At the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration,Public Health Implications of Raising the Minimum Age of
Legal Access to Tobacco Products
Public Health Implications of Raising the Minimum Age of
Legal Access to Tobacco Products considers the likely public
health impact of raising the minimum age for purchasing tobacco
products. The report reviews the existing literature on tobacco
use patterns, developmental biology and psychology, health
effects of tobacco use, and the current landscape regarding youth
access laws, including minimum age laws and their enforcement.
Based on this literature, the report makes conclusions about the
likely effect of raising the minimum age to 19, 21, and 25 years
on tobacco use initiation. The report also quantifies the
accompanying public health outcomes based on findings from two
tobacco use simulation models. According to the report, raising
the minimum age of legal access to tobacco products, particularly
to ages 21 and 25, will lead to substantial reductions in tobacco
use, improve the health of Americans across the lifespan, and
save lives.
considers the likely public
health impact of raising the minimum age for purchasing tobacco
products. The report reviews the existing literature on tobacco
use patterns, developmental biology and psychology, health
effects of tobacco use, and the current landscape regarding youth
access laws, including minimum age laws and their enforcement.
Based on this literature, the report makes conclusions about the
likely effect of raising the minimum age to 19, 21, and 25 years
on tobacco use initiation. The report also quantifies the
accompanying public health outcomes based on findings from two
tobacco use simulation models. According to the report, raising
the minimum age of legal access to tobacco products, particularly
to ages 21 and 25, will lead to substantial reductions in tobacco
use, improve the health of Americans across the lifespan, and
save lives.Public Health Implications of Raising the Minimum
Age of Legal Access to Tobacco Products
Public Health Implications of Raising the Minimum
Age of Legal Access to Tobacco Products will be a valuable
reference for federal policy makers and state and local health
departments and legislators.
will be a valuable
reference for federal policy makers and state and local health
departments and legislators.