Roswell Park, Tobacco-Free WNY Commend Gov. Cuomo’s Plan to Regulate Products Used in E-Cigarettes

Proposed policy changes are in public’s best interest, experts say

BUFFALO, N.Y. — New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s plan to regulate and tax vapor products used in electronic cigarettes is an important step in protecting youth and nonusers from possible detrimental impacts, say experts from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center and Tobacco-Free Western New York (TFWNY). The policy changes proposed as part of Gov. Cuomo’s 2017-2018 Executive Budget include a clear signal that protecting youth and adults from the dangers of nicotine exposure and the cancer-causing agents in e-cigarette emissions is a priority for the state, these cancer researchers and public health advocates say.

“Experts have recommended tax policies that are based on the relative harms from different tobacco products, and the governor’s proposal is driven by these potential impacts,” says Andrew Hyland, PhD, Chair of the Department of Health Behavior at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. “A modest increase in e-cigarette prices should serve to help deter young people from using e-cigarettes while not posing a significant impediment for adult cigarette smokers who are looking to switch completely to e-cigarettes as a step toward going tobacco- and e-cigarette-free.”

“We commend Governor Cuomo on his plan to regulate vapor products used in electronic cigarettes as he did combustible tobacco products, and include these products under the Clean Indoor Air Act,” said Anthony Billoni, Director of Tobacco-Free Western New York. “These actions, along with his proposal to tax the sale of these products, line up with the U.S. Surgeon General’s recent policy recommendations around vapor products in the report E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults.”

For decades, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center scientists have led many influential studies on the impacts of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Recent examples include a study that found that e-cigarettes can leave potentially harmful substances on surfaces like walls and tables, and contributions to the Surgeon General’s recent report.

E-cigarette use more than doubled from 2013 to 2014 among young adults 18–24 years of age nationwide. In 2014, more than half of young adult smokers in New York State used electronic cigarettes.

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About Roswell Park: The mission of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1898, Roswell Park is one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. The Institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit www.roswellpark.org, call 1-800-ROSWELL (1-800-767-9355) or email AskRoswell@Roswellpark.org. Follow Roswell Park on Facebook and Twitter.

About Tobacco-Free Western New York: The New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Tobacco Control funds Tobacco-Free Western New York to increase support for New York State’s tobacco-free norm through youth action and community engagement. Efforts are evidence-based, policy-driven, and cost-effective approaches that decrease youth tobacco use, motivate adult smokers to quit, and eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke. Tobacco-Free Western New York is a part of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Media Contact

Annie Deck-Miller, Senior Media Relations Manager 716-845-8593; annie.deck-miller@roswellpark.org