Times Union: Letter – New Tobacco Policies Will Protect Youth

James K. Reed, M.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of St. Peter’s Health Partners, wrote a letter to the editor of the Times Union, in support of new tobacco policies aimed at protecting the youth of New York state. This includes raising the minimum legal sales age for tobacco to 21, a policy measure passed last week by the state Senate.

From the letter:

Tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable disease and death. Each year, more than 28,000 New Yorkers die from tobacco use. Some 95 percent of smokers start before the age of 18. If we want to improve the health of Capital Region residents, we need to help those who are smoking quit and prevent youth from starting. We can accomplish this if we decrease the accessibility, the affordability and the attractiveness of all tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes.

Click here to read Dr. Reed’s entire letter.