To the editor:

Nicotine has been proven to be a dangerous and addictive drug, and, as doctors, we worry when we hear the usage of electronic cigarettes by youths is skyrocketing. E-cigarette companies are counting on their unregulated marketing ploys to recruit youths into becoming the next generation of tobacco users.

We know that e-cigarettes are marketed to youths as well as adults and that nicotine can harm normal brain development in growing kids. Unfortunately, young people seem to believe that e-cigarettes are a good alternative to tobacco, and more and more kids are using them each year. In fact, the 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey showed that, for the first time ever, middle school and high school students used e-cigarettes more than any other tobacco products.

Skeptics are already questioning why we should regulate e-cigarettes. The truth is, the tobacco control policies we already have in place have worked, and overall rates of tobacco use are falling in the United States. 

We need to use these already proven strategies to discourage youths from using not only e-cigarettes, but also all tobacco products. We should strengthen clean air laws, improve access to programs to help tobacco users quit, and provide needed funding for tobacco prevention programs.