The rapidly growing use of nicotine products among our nation’s youth is one of the most critical public health issues currently facing our country. About 2.55 million middle schoolers and high schoolers in the United States reported using e-cigarettes in 2022, an increase of 21.5% from 2021.

To ensure the future health of our communities, our country must help young people avoid becoming hooked on these addictive products. Flavored tobacco plays a key role in convincing young people to try these products. Kaiser Permanente supports removing all flavored tobacco products from the market, including flavored e-cigarettes.

Historically, the marketing and promotion of menthol cigarettes have been targeted heavily toward African Americans through culturally tailored advertising images and messages. Today, more than 7 out of 10 African American youth age 12 to 17 who smoke use menthol cigarettes.

In order to ensure that our country’s young people have the best possible chance of growing up free from nicotine addiction we support:

• Banning the sale of all flavored tobacco products including menthol in cigarettes and e-cigarettes
• Promoting efforts by the Food and Drug Administration to reduce levels of nicotine in combustible products to minimal or subadditive levels
• Raising the minimum legal age for purchasing nicotine products to 21

In support of our policy priorities, Kaiser Permanente has acted on policies that:

• Remove flavored tobacco products from the market nationwide.
  We also supported state-based efforts to do the same in Oregon, Hawaii, and California. In California, we actively supported California’s Yes to Protect Kids from Candy-Flavored Tobacco campaign and a ban on menthol flavored tobacco products.
• Raise the minimum age for purchasing nicotine products to 21, including state and local policies to complement local enforcement of the Federal Tobacco 21 law

¹ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022.
² Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022.
³ Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 2022.