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A&P2 Module 5 Discussion- Tobacco usage
“On Dec. 20, 2019, the President signed legislation amending the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, and raising the federal minimum age of sale of tobacco products from 18 to 21 years. It is now illegal for a retailer to sell any tobacco product—including cigarettes, cigars and e-cigarettes—to anyone under 21.” Perform research on the short-term and long-term effects that tobacco products have on teenagers and adults, the added compounds in tobacco products, the marketing methods tobacco companies have, along with if vaping is a healthy alternative to smoking.
After your research, address the following questions in your post:
Do you agree with the federal government changing the law of the minimum age to purchase tobacco and tobacco related products from 18 years of age to 21 years of age? Does this law infringe on civil liberties and individual personal freedom? Is vaping a healthier alternative to smoking?
The center for substance abuse research published an article on tobacco use and the effects it can have on the body, both mentally and physically. Tobacco has a formidable influence on the brain; the route of ingestion does not matter. When inhaling smoke, more than four thousand chemicals are unleashed, like nicotine and a plethora of carcinogens. Nicotine rapidly travels through the bloodstream, reaching the brain in sheer seconds. When chewing tobacco, nicotine takes a bit longer to reach the brain. Unlike smoking tobacco, which is inhaled by the lungs, chewing releases chemical molecules instantly, merging them into the bloodstream. Never the less, at whatever point nicotine reaches the brain, it is displayed as a stimulant, causing the brain to expel an overabundance of neurotransmitters like dopamine, which is linked to motivation and pleasure. (NIH, 2020) The onset of an addiction can occur rapidly, which is why I agree with the legislature increasing the tobacco age from eighteen to twenty-one. Nearly all smokers start as kids or young adults, and the tobacco industry heavily targets these age groups. Raising the age
bracket to twenty-one will help to prevent young adults from ever starting to smoke and to reduce the deaths, disease, and health care costs caused by tobacco use. (TFK, 2020) I am happy to be living in a country where we have freedom and liberty, but I do not believe that this specific law change infringes on our constitutional rights or personal freedom. On the contrary, it allows those who are more vulnerable and easily manipulated, the chance to fully comprehend the pros and cons of the choices they make regarding smoking, chewing, or vaping tobacco. Acoording to the CDC, About 250 kids under the age of eighteen become regular smokers each day. Unfortunately, one in three will eventually die as a result. (CDC, 2019) Researchers have suggested that e-cigarettes (vaping) may help smokers reduce their use of traditional cigarettes. In the short term, it is not uncommon to experience a sore throat, coughing, eye irritation, and dry mouth shortly after vaping. E-cigarettes contain a variety of chemicals, including propylene glycol, glycerin, diacetyl, and benzaldehyde. Each flavor may also contain additional chemical additives. The long term effects of inhaling the vaporized form of these products are not yet known, and they may be associated with effects such as cancer. (VWH, 2020) Personally, being a mother of young children, I believe we should do everything we can to prevent our youth from smoking and help save lives. Increasing the tobacco age to twenty-one will help our country achieve these goals.
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