Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism

Department of Medicine

Pediatric pulmonologist L. E. Faricy, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics (left), and Vermont State Health Commissioner Mark Levine, M.D., professor of medicine

(JANUARY 12, 2024) Pediatric pulmonologist L. E. Faricy, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics, and Vermont State Health Commissioner Mark Levine, M.D., professor of medicine, commented on a bill currently making its way throughout the statehouse that would ban all forms of flavored tobacco products, including menthol, WPTZ-TV NBC5 reported.

Lawmakers have been trying to get this ban passed for years because they say the flavors are getting youth addicted to nicotine.

“Specifically with the appeal of flavors, we saw a rise in use that’s creating concerning health problems and nicotine dependence for young people,” said Faricy.

Levine said, “Tobacco doesn’t only lead to death. It leads to morbidity, which can be translated into dollars for productivity loss.”

Last year, the state Senate passed S.18, the bill that bans all forms of flavored tobacco, so now it's up to the house. The bill is waiting on a vote in the House Committee on Human Services before its next step.

This topic was also covered in a story by WCAX-TV, in which Faricy said: “[Young people] deserve a chance to reach adulthood without being targeted for addiction by different corporations.” She says teens with developing brains are more susceptible to nicotine addiction. “I wish I had a lot of great stories about helping young people successfully overcome nicotine dependence once they are moderately or severely addicted, but I really don’t. It’s far and few between.”