Testimony before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Health Regarding Nicotine Free Generation

07-14-2025 THR101 Testimony - S.1568 & H.2562 - Nicotine Free Generation.pdf

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Chairs Driscoll and Decker, Vice-Chairs Cyr and Kerans, and Members of the Committee:

Thank you for your time today to discuss a generational ban on the sale of nicotine products, also known as a nicotine-free generation (NFG). My name is Lindsey Stroud and I’m Creator and Manager of Tobacco Harm Reduction 101, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization dedicated to research, education, and advocacy for safer alternatives to smoking.

While commendable, nicotine-free generation bans overlook the historic declines in youth tobacco and nicotine product use in recent years. Additionally, young adult smoking rates are at record lows in the Commonwealth. As such, severe bans are unnecessary.

Instead of implementing more restrictive policies that lead to significant revenue losses, policymakers should reexamine existing policies like the 2020 flavor ban, which have not yielded significant declines compared to neighboring states. A more thorough review of existing bans, coupled with well-funded tobacco control programs, could more effectively achieve public health goals.

Key Points:

• Youth use of traditional tobacco and modern nicotine products is at record lows in Massachusetts and the United States.

• In 2023, only 3.4 percent of Massachusetts high school students reported past-month use of combustible cigarettes and 16 percent reported using e-cigarettes.

• Between 1993 and 2023, current use of cigarettes among Massachusetts high school students decreased by 90.5 percent.

• In 2024, among U.S. middle and high school students, 5.9 percent reported current e-cigarette use, 1.8 percent were using nicotine pouches, and 1.4 percent were currently smoking combustible cigarettes.

• Between 2019 and 2023, current e-cigarette use among U.S. youth declined by 70.5 percent while cigarette use dropped by 67.4 percent.

• Massachusetts’ flavor ban and tobacco tax increase has had mixed results.

• According to national survey data, the rate of e-cigarette use among Massachusetts high schoolers in 2023 (18.3%) was comparable to rates in neighboring states like Connecticut (11.5 percent), New Hampshire (16.7 percent), Rhode Island (16.5 percent), and Vermont (16.1 percent).

• The usage rates for combustible cigarettes among high school students in 2023 were also similar across the region, with Massachusetts at 3.4 percent, Connecticut at 3 percent, New Hampshire at 3.9 percent, and Rhode Island at 3.1 percent.

• Youth tobacco use is down, while mental health issues remain high.

• In 2023, more than one-third (34 percent) of Massachusetts high school students reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, while 12.3 percent had made a suicide plan, and 7.2 percent had attempted suicide in the 12 months prior to the survey.

• Smoking rates among young adults aged 18 to 24 in Massachusetts are at an all-time low, with only 3.6 percent currently smoking in 2023 – an 81.7 percent decrease from 2013.

• E-cigarette use among young adults has also declined, dropping from 16.3 percent in 2022 to 14 percent in 2023.

• Tobacco product retailers in Massachusetts are already doing a good job in not selling to minors. Since 2018, the FDA has conducted inspections on 29,879 retailers, resulting in 2,519 warning letters and/or civil monetary penalties to violators who sold to minors. Only 3.4 percent of inspections resulted in violations.

• In 2023, Massachusetts collected an estimated $598 million in cigarette monies, yet allocated only $6.1 million (1 percent) on programs to reduce youth use and help adults quit smoking.