Overview of the Problem
Smoking and vaping is a highly prevalent issue in the U.S.A. It is particularly a problematic concern among youth under the age of 21 years. A large number of middle and high school youth have or continue to use a wide variety of tobacco-related commodities, including electronic cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, cigarettes, and pipe tobacco (CDC, 2019). The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (2020) posits that the usage of these chemicals contributes to a toxic mixture of over 7,000 chemicals, 69 of which are linked to cancer. As a result, the prevalent smoking among the youth not only endangers the lives of smokers but also that of non-smokers, making it a concerning health crisis. In light of the increasing prevalence, numerous legislations and policies have been proposed and even enacted to control smoking among American young adults. The latest legislative attempt is the S. 1258: Tobacco to 21 Act. On the overall, the bill seeks to increase the minimum age requirement for one to purchase and use tobacco to 21 years with a view to reducing usage among the youth under this age limit (S. 1258: Tobacco to 21 Act, 2019). Notably, on December 20, 2019, President Donald Trump signed the bill into law, officially raising the smoking age from 18 to 21 in the United States (Nilsen, 2019).
Severity of the Problem