October 15, 2019

The number of vaping deaths in the United States (18 as of October 1st) and vaping-related lung injuries (1,080) is increasing, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, leaving health experts to call for a renewed approach to preventing smoking among young people.

With that goal in mind, Renee Turchi, MD, MPH, a pediatrician and clinical professor of Community Health and Prevention at the Dornsife School of Public Health, along with Susan Soleki, DrPH, FNP-BC, PPCNP-BC, an associate clinical professor at Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions, and Enitan Adegite, MD, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Drexel College of Medicine, published a review underscoring the need for health care professionals who work with adolescents and their families to respond to the new types of smoking risks emerging today, with the rise of vaping.

The research team reports that 5.6 million of people under 18 will lose their lives to a smoking-related illness unless current smoking trends are reversed.

They write that “in addition to providing patient and family support, pediatric health care providers must advocate for public policies that limit the access of these products to minors. Indeed, providers must promote local and national health initiatives aimed at the prevention and education of this public health epidemic affecting our adolescent population.”

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