NAPNAP Revises Position Statement Regarding the Use and Exposure to Tobacco Products in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults
NEW YORK, Nov. 20, 2020 – Today, nearly nine out of every 10 adult smokers began smoking before the age of 18 years. The use of tobacco products is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability and death in the U.S. and is responsible for 480,000 deaths a year. It is imperative that health care providers, our government and society take extensive measures to help prevent tobacco use among our youths.
The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) has recently updated its position statement regarding the use and exposure to tobacco products in children, adolescents and young adults, including facts and statistics regarding e-cigarettes, products that has seen significant increase in recent years.
“While use of traditional tobacco products by adolescents has decreased, insufficient regulation of the e-cigarette industry, exposure to advertising and availability of appealing flavors drive increased use of newer tobacco products by young people,” said NAPNAP President Jessica Peck, DNP, APRN, CPNP-PC, CNE, CNL, FAANP, FAAN. “Health care providers, lawmakers, educators and parents all play an important role in preventing harmful effects of nicotine use on developing teen brains.”
The statement calls for health care providers to routinely screen young patients for tobacco product exposure at every clinical encounter, provide anticipatory guidance to patients and families, provide counseling and age-appropriate cessation resources and discuss the risks of second-hand smoke with adult caregivers.
In its statement, the association also recommends public health education programs to increase awareness of the health risks of youth tobacco use and support for evidence-based curricula for school and community programs aimed at the prevention of youth initiation of tobacco product use.
Among several policy recommendations, NAPNAP calls for the ban of advertising of all tobacco products, removal of all flavored tobacco products and prohibition of online sales of tobacco products. The association also supports increased funding and use of evidence-based strategies for comprehensive tobacco prevention and control at all levels of government.
The position statement was published in the November/December edition of the Journal of Pediatric Health Care and can be accessed online.
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The National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) is the nation’s only professional association for pediatric-focused advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) dedicated to improving the quality of health care for infants, children, adolescents and young adults. Representing more than 8,000 healthcare practitioners with 18 special interest groups and 53 chapters, NAPNAP has been advocating for children’s health since 1973 and was the first APRN society in the U.S. Our mission is to empower pediatric-focused advanced practice registered nurses and key partners to optimize child and family health. www.NAPNAP.org
