MSSNY President Delivers Testimony to NY State Senate on Potential Harms of Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping


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MEDICAL SOCIETY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
865 Merrick Avenue, Westbury, New York 11590-9007
www.mssny.org
Communications Division
Telephone: (516) 488-6100

 

For Immediate Release
November 4, 2019 

MSSNY President Delivers Testimony to NY State Senate on Potential Harms of Electronic Cigarettes and Vaping

November 4, 2019, Westbury, NY— MSSNY President Dr. Arthur Fougner, MD, today delivered testimony to the New York State Senate examining the safety and potential harms of electronic cigarettes and vaping, especially among school-aged youth.

In particular, he praised Governor Cuomo and the New York State Health Department for its emergency executive action to ban the sale of flavored e-cigarettes in the state (https://www.mssnyenews.org/press-releases/mssny-supports-call-to-ban-menthol-flavored-e-cigarettes/).   He also noted MSSNY’s long-standing support for legislation, such as that sponsored by Senator Brad Hoylman and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal, to formally codify these provisions into law.  This legislation will take on even greater importance if the Governor’s action is not upheld by the courts. 

Specifically he noted that “While evidence exists that adult smokers who completely substitute vaping for traditional smoking reduce their exposure to many of the toxic chemicals and carcinogens present in combustible tobacco cigarettes, e-cigarettes are not risk-free and are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a quit-smoking aid. The bottom line is neither smoking nor vaping is safe, and people who do not smoke or vape should not begin to do so.”

Dr. Fougner also urged strong caution regarding proposals to legalize the recreational use of marijuana since it appears from a number of sources that the vast majority of cases of vape-related lung illness are linked to the vaping of THC. According to the NYS Department of Health we know that those individuals who have developed some of the cases of EVALI were patients who only vaped black market marijuana which had been laced with Vitamin E acetate – Learn more here.  Since the FDA has launched an ongoing investigation, he urged that “any proposed adult-use cannabis program, especially with a vaporizer product, be put on hold until completion of that investigation.”

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About the Medical Society of the State of New York
Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York is the state’s principal non-profit professional organization for physicians, residents and medical students of all specialties. Its mission is to represent the interests of patients and physicians to assure quality healthcare services for all.

MSSNY Contact:
Roseann Raia
Communications / Marketing
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Ave.
Westbury, New York
516-488-6100 ext 302
rraia@mssny.org

 

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