'Tobacco 21' law can save lives
Family physicians cheered when Sen. John G. Mulroe introduced Senate Bill 3011. The Tobacco 21 bill would raise Illinois' tobacco purchasing age to 21. This will save lives and protect taxpayers through reduced health care costs.
Tobacco 21 is scientifically sound. Last March the Institute of Medicine released a study that estimated that raising the tobacco purchasing age to 21 would reduce smoking among 15- to 17-year-olds by 25 percent, and 18- to 20-year-olds by 15 percent.
Thousands of kids will live longer, healthier lives because they will never become addicted to nicotine.
Tobacco 21 also covers e-cigarettes, a product whose long-term health effects are undocumented. We do know e-cigarettes have nicotine and toxins known to cause cancer. They are NOT FDA-approved for smoking cessation. Meanwhile, e-cigarette use among youth has tripled in just the past few years.
Because our soldiers should be in top physical shape, the Department of Defense will make all military bases and posts worldwide tobacco-free by 2020.
The costs are real. Illinois spends $5.49 billion, $2 billion of that from the state's Medicaid program, to treat tobacco-related diseases. Hawaii and over 120 cities, including Boston, New York and Cleveland have Tobacco 21 laws. Now Chicago will join them.
Please help today's youth become tobacco-free adults. We are ready to help our young patients quit tobacco for good!
This is one issue Republicans and Democrats can agree upon in our current political environment. We can do something great for our state. Please contact your legislators and ask for their votes to save lives and lower health care costs in Illinois by supporting Senate Bill 3011, Tobacco 21.
Donald R. Lurye, President-Elect, Illinois Academy of Family Physicians
Glen Ellyn