The Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) Director Brian King has co-authored a new commentary in Nature Medicine discussing considerations for healthcare providers around talking to adults about the relative risks of different tobacco products.
In the observation, Nicotine E-Cigarettes: Considerations for Healthcare Providers, authors King, Bejamin Toll, and Tracy Smith, reinforce that youth should not use any form of tobacco products, the agency said.
As for adults who smoke, the commentary stressed the importance of using evidence-based cessation methods, including FDA-approved pharmacotherapies, as a first line treatment. The authors also noted it is critical to reinforce the importance of complete transitioning away from smoking to exclusive e-cigarette use among patients who smoke.
“Misperceptions among physicians and other healthcare professionals may lead to patient counseling that is not consistent with existing scientific evidence,” the commentary said, adding: "these misperceptions are associated with lower odds of completely transitioning from cigarettes to e-cigarettes.”
On Tuesday, the CTP launched a new webpage aimed at educating the public about the relative risks of tobacco products. The FDA said CTP will continue to update the information on this new webpage based on the best available science.
Last month, CTP launched its Searchable Tobacco Products Database on its website that will be updated monthly.
The database includes a list of tobacco products—including e-cigarettes—that may be legally marketed in the United States that is designed to provide “key” information in a specific location, with easy-to-use search capabilities. The launch is part of CTP’s plan following recommendations from the Reagan-Udall Foundation.
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