What We’re Reading

• Nicotine Delivery: A comprehensive study from the National Academies of Science, Engineering and Engineering looked at the public health consequences of “electronic cigarettes”, known as e-cigarettes. The report finds e-cigarettes are far less harmful than conventional cigarettes and may help adults quit smoking, but they serve as a gateway for younger people to smoke cigarettes. The broader public health consequences and health effects remain unknown. The American Cancer Society just released a policy statement strongly recommending that every effort be made to prevent the initiation of e-cigarettes by youth and encouraging the Food and Drug Administration to regulate all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to the full extent of its authority. They also cautiously recommend that clinicians add e-cigarettes and vaporizers as a smoking-cessation option.

 

• #FreethePill: A new study finds that women are interested in accessing birth control without a prescription. An online survey found that 39% of women and 29% of teens were interested in using an over-the-counter progestin-only pill. Allowing over-the-counter oral contraceptives would help remove barriers to birth control.