MOUNT SINAI, NY – Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker warns residents about the dangers of liquid nicotine, especially when used by children and teens. E-cigarettes, which contain nicotine, cause addiction, harm brain development, and can lead to continued tobacco product use. According to the CDC, e-cigarettes are now the most commonly used tobacco product among youth. In 2016, more than 2 million middle school and high school students in the United States used e-cigarettes, including 4.3% of all middle school students and 11.3% of all high school students.
In 2014, Legislator Anker sponsored legislation to require Suffolk County businesses selling liquid nicotine to display a warning sign about the product’s ill effects. After hearing from a number of concerned parents and teachers that were aware of the high use of liquid nicotine in our schools, and following the death of a one-year-old child who digested the product, Legislator Anker moved to require this warning sign to educate the public and help prevent further fatalities.
To further public awareness, especially among Suffolk County’s youth, Legislator Anker has filed legislation to create a Liquid Nicotine Awareness Poster Contest. Elementary school students will participate in making posters on the dangers and harmful effects of using liquid nicotine. The posters will then be judged by the Suffolk County Legislature and a single winner will be chosen for Suffolk County. This bill will be laid on the table at the General Legislature Meeting on March 6th and if approved in committee, will be voted on by the Legislature on March 20th.
“A recent study shows that cancer rates are decreasing mainly due to the reduction in smoking. However, with the increased use of liquid nicotine, especially among our school-age children, the rate could easily rise again. Liquid nicotine is unregulated, addictive, and toxic,” said Legislator Anker. “The use of e-cigarettes has become rampant among teens and preteens, causing them to become addicted to nicotine at an early age. Not only can it be deadly, but the cancer-causing chemical formaldehyde has also been found in this product. It is important that we educate our children about the negative effects of liquid nicotine.”
For more information about the liquid nicotine warning sign or the Liquid Nicotine Awareness Poster Contact, please contact Legislator Anker’s office at 631-854-1600.
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