Article

Regulatory strategies to reduce tobacco addiction in youth

J E Henningfield¹, E T Moolchan², M Zeller³

¹ Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Pinney Associates, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
² Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
³ Pinney Associates, Bethesda, Maryland, USA

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
Jack E Henningfield, PhD, Pinney Associates, 4800 Montgomery Lane, Suite 1000, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA;
jhenning{at}pinneyassociates.com

Preventing tobacco addiction and achieving cessation in established users are the cornerstones of efforts to reduce tobacco use and disease. It has been increasingly recognised that reducing tobacco toxin exposure has theoretical potential to reduce disease in continuing tobacco users. This has been controversial because such approaches also carry the potential to undermine prevention and cessation. As complicated as harm reduction issues are for adults, they are still more complicated for youth. Harm reduction is not a singular approach, but rather a concept that encompasses an extremely diverse array of potential approaches. These carry equally diverse potential risks and benefits. The regulatory framework (for example, whether or not the Food and Drug Administration regulates the approach) is also predicted to be a major factor in determining the consequences of harm reduction approaches. This paper examines the various issues and potential approaches concerning the application of harm reduction to youth. We conclude that although some carry great risk, others may actually support broader tobacco control efforts to prevent tobacco use and foster cessation in youth and adults.

Keywords: adolescence; youth; nicotine addiction; regulatory strategies; harm reduction

Abbreviations: AMA, American Medical Association; FDA, Food and Drug Administration; FTC, Federal Trade Commission; IOM, Institute of Medicine; PREPs, potential reduced exposure products

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