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The Intended and Unintended Effects of E-Cigarette Policies on Tobacco and Non-Tobacco Health
February 3 @ 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm UTC+0
The rise in availability of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) products may generate important tobacco-related health benefits if those who would otherwise use combustible cigarettes substitute toward ENDS. According to the National Academies of Sciences (2018), while electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is not without risk, it is substantially less harmful to respiratory, heart, and cancer-related health than cigarette smoking. On the other hand, tobacco control advocates have expressed concern that the availability of ENDS products may serve as a “gateway” for riskier behaviors among younger persons (teens and young adults) who might otherwise have not used any tobacco products. Our work explores the intended and unintended effects of U.S. state and local policies designed to restrict access to ENDS products — including ENDS taxation, restrictions on the sale of flavored ENDS, and licensure laws — on tobacco and non-tobacco-related public health. Our results suggest that while many (though not all) of these policies have their intended effects (reducing ENDS use), there are also important unintended effects on combustible cigarette use as well as non-tobacco (alcohol, marijuana, substance use)-related public health.
Speaker:
Prof. Joseph J. Sabia is chairman of the Department of Economics and director of the Center for Health Economics & Policy Studies (CHEPS) at San Diego State University. He is an applied microeconomist who specializes in labor, public, and health economics. His scholarship explores topics including the economics of risky behaviors, the unintended effects of minimum wage policy, and the effects of war on veterans.