Despite the fact that fewer teenagers are reportedly using tobacco compared to the rates in the past, smoking has continued to be an international health problem.
As it’s revealed that more than half of current smokers started the habit before they were 18, a report released by the Institute of Medicine has reportedly suggested that setting the minimum age of buying cigarettes at 21 in the U.S. would further lower the number of smokers, according to CNN News.
The report has estimated that this new age limit would result in nearly a quarter-million fewer premature deaths and 50,000 fewer deaths from lung cancer among people born between 2000 and 2019.
The recent report and study, which was conducted at the request of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, has been praised by Chris Hansen of the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network as he stated that, “powerful interventions are needed to keep youth from lifelong addictions to these deadly products.”
After comparing the predicted benefits of raising the minimum legal age of buying tobacco products to 19, 21 and 25 years, researchers reportedly found that the greatest benefits would be found if the legal age nationwide were 25 instead of 18, as it is currently.
Although the minimum age of legal access is 19 in four states and 21 in New York City, the FDA reportedly cannot simply raise the age limit nationwide, despite the benefits of doing so.
“The public health impact of raising the MLA for tobacco products depends on the degree to which local and state governments change their polices,” the report stated.
It continues, “These decisions will depend on each state’s or locality’s balance between personal interests and the privacy of young adults to make their own choices versus society’s legitimate concerns about protecting public health.”
Smoking remains a problem outside of the U.S. as increasing numbers in Africa and the Mediterranean are taking up the deadly habit, according to TIME. There is reportedly a tobacco-related death every six-seconds worldwide, according to the World Health Organization.
“There is no safe way to use tobacco,” stated Dr. Sandra G. Hassock, the president of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
