Tobacco

The vaping-related condition that has sickened at least 119 Texans, and hundreds more nationwide, has been named EVALI, or e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury. The new name was noted last week in newly issued guidance for clinicians from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Physicians checked off major accomplishments during the 2019 session of the Texas Legislature, including finally convincing lawmakers that raising the age to purchase tobacco to 21 was the right thing for the state's present and future. Medicine also scored improvements on the insurance front and vital funding increases.

Medicine received good news Wednesday that Sen. Joan Huffman (R-Houston) will refile a bill that would raise the tobacco sale age to 21. Refiling might not sound like much, but this is a very good indication of the bill’s likelihood of success in the Senate.

While tobacco use is decreasing, Texas still continues to have higher rates of death attributable to smoking. TMA supports legislative and local efforts to make Texas smoke free and to fund important state tobacco cessation.

A look at the state of tobacco use in Texas as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Surgeon’s Generals 1964 report linking smoking to cancer.

This year, Texas will experience more than 110,000 new cases of cancer and nearly 40,000 cancer-related deaths. Receiving regular medical care, avoiding tobacco, limiting alcohol use, maintaining a healthy weight, and being physically active can reduce a person’s cancer risk.