INDIANAPOLIS — Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S., according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Now, the FDA is pushing to restrict the sale of flavored cigars to teenagers.
Smoking products are easily found in dozens of stores throughout Indianapolis, adding more opportunities for teens to be introduced to nicotine.
Nationwide, 500,000 kids are smoking cigars, and more than 800 kids are trying them for the first time each day, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids and the Institute for Nicotine & Tobacco Studies at Rutgers University.
"The flavored stuff is almost 100% of what I see kids getting into," said Dr. Jacob Mulinix, a local psychiatrist who works in addiction at Community Fairbanks Recovery Center.
Mulinix said oftentimes, they're using the cigar wrapper for marijuana.
"The common thought, and I actually thought this for a while, was that cigars are not as harmful as cigarettes, but actually, they're more harmful because they have the same amount of toxins as cigarettes do, same addictive potential, and there's tobacco in the wrap. That's actually what separates cigars from cigarettes," Mulinix said.
Experts say the cigars' low price, marketing and social media allow these companies to appeal to a younger generation.
"I have two patients right now that are detoxing off opiates in the hospital. They started smoking cigars, flavored cigars at age 11 and 10," Mulinix said.
Last year, the FDA announced a proposal to ban menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars to reduce eventual disease, and even death.
"The thought is that if there's a limitation to those products, that kids will be less inclined to get into smoking those products because they're not going to like them as much," Mulinix said.
Mulinix said he understands kids will be tempted to experiment. That's why he said parents need to have an honest discussion to help curb the problem before your child starts.
"Really let them know they care about them and share the risks," Mulinix said.
More information on the Community Fairbanks Recovery Center, including resources, can be found at this link.