Letter to the Editor: Time is now to end sale of all flavored tobacco products

Youth tobacco use is an ongoing epidemic that impacts millions of Americans — including kids right here in Delaware — and it is driven in large part by addictive flavored-tobacco products like e-cigarettes, cigars and flavored cigarettes. In Delaware, 13.6% of high school students actively use e-cigarettes, 1,600 try cigarettes for the first time each day and an additional 200 kids become regular smokers every day.

As an active member of the Kent County community, I was thrilled to see Dr. Albert Rizzo’s commentary (“Focus on discouraging youth vaping is getting positive results,” April 27) on the positive progress made by Delaware to address youth tobacco use — including the recent and unanimous Wilmington City Council resolution.

However, there is more work to be done. Tobacco companies lure young people with enticing flavors to get them addicted to their products, severely impacting their long-term health. Additionally, there is a greater, disproportionate impact of flavored tobacco products on communities of color.

On April 29, the Food and Drug Administration announced its commitment to take action against flavored tobacco products. To protect the health and futures of Delaware’s youth — and all communities — state legislators must follow the lead of Rep. Melissa Minor-Brown, D-New Castle, and pass comprehensive legislation to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes and all flavored cigars, e-cigarettes, hookah and smokeless tobacco.

Monica Shockley-Porter

Clayton