Agenda Packets - 2018/08/06 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Lowering Initiation Rates The initiation age of tobacco use is critical. Among adults who become daily smokers, approximately 90 percent report first use of cigarettes before reaching 19 years of age, and almost 100 percent report first use before age 26. As mentioned above, FDA cannot raise the MLA nationwide. However, states and localities can set a higher minimum age for their- communities. Most states currently set the MLA at 18 years. Four- states set it at 19 years, and several localities around the country have raised the minimum age to 21 years. Based on its review of the literature, the committee concludes that overall, increasing the MLA for tobacco products will likely prevent or delay initiation of tobacco use by adolescents and young adults. The age group most impacted will be those age 15 to 17 years. The committee also concludes that the impact of raising the MLA to 21 will likely be substantially higher than raising it to 19. However, the added effect of raising the MLA from 21 to 25 will likely be considerably less. The parts of the brain most responsible for decision making, impulse control, sensation seek- ing, and susceptibility to peer pressure continue to develop and change through young adulthood, and adolescent brains are uniquely vulnerable to the effects of nicotine. In addition, the majority of underage users rely on social sources—like family and friends—to get tobacco. Raising the MLA to 19 will therefore not have much of an effect on reducing the social sources of those in high school. Raising the MLA to 21 will mean that those who can legally obtain tobacco are less likely to be in the same social networks as high school students. In the same vein, increas- ing the MLA from 21 to 25 is not likely to achieve additional notable reductions in social sources for those under age 15. Reducing Prevalence, Decreasing Disease Delaying initiation rates will likely decrease the prevalence of tobacco users in the U.S. popula- tion. To quantify this decrease in both prevalence of tobacco users and in related health concerns FIGURE: Committee Estimates Regarding Effects on Initiation Rates 100% 0 �o 309 _ 0 259 CD 209 r� m 159 a� 109 5° under 15 yrs 15-17 yrs 18 yrs 19-20 yrs 21-24 yrs Age Group NOTE: This figure was created using data from Table 7-2 in the report. 2 MLA 25 MLA 21 - MLA 19