IOWA

DEPARTMENTOF
OFJUSTICE
JUSTICE
IOWA DEPARTMENT
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
Thomas J.
J.Miller,
Miller, Attorney General
www.IowaAttorneyGeneral.gov
www.lowaAttorneyGeneral.gov

CONTACT: Geoff
CONTACT:
GeoffGreenwood
Greenwood Communications
CommunicationsDirector
Director 515-281-6699
515-281-6699 geoff.greenwood@iowa.gov
geoff.greenwood@iowa.gov
RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 23, 2015

Statement
Attorney General
General Tom Miller
Miller on
on Electronic
Electronic
Statement by Attorney
Cigarette Key
Key Facts
Facts
Cigarette
The harm of the combustible
combustible cigarette
"The
cigarette is
is dramatically
dramatically greater
greater than the harm of
e-cigarette
the e-cigarette"
The
"The harm of the combustible cigarette is
is dramatically
dramaticallygreater
greaterthan
than the
the harm
harm of
of the
the e-cigarette.
The combustible
combustible cigarette
is
by
far
the
most
harmful
consumer
product
known
mankind,
cigarette is by far
most harmful consumer product known to mankind,
killing
United States
States alone. This
This is
many
killing 480,000
480,000 people
people each
each year
year in the United
is largely
largely due
due to
to the many
deadly toxins
toxins created
created and
and released
released by
by the
the combustion.
combustion. AA panel
panel of
of experts
experts estimates
estimates that
that the ecigarette is 95% less
less harmful.
Some
push
back
on
this
study,
in
part
questioning
the
harmful. Some push back on this study, in part questioning the ability
ability to
put an exact
exact number on it.
it. Another
Another estimate
estimate is
is 90-98%
90-98% less
less harmful. But whatever number
number is
is
correct, e-cigarettes are dramatically
dramatically less harmful than combustible cigarettes.
There
effort to
tosay
saythat
thatcombustible
combustible cigarettes
cigarettes and
and e-cigarettes
e-cigarettes are
are equally
equally
"There has
has been
been an effort
their companies
companies are equally
equally evil, and that they
they should
should be strongly
strongly regulated
harmful, that their
regulated the
same way. This view
is
incorrect,
but
it
has
gotten
significant
traction.
Polling
indicates
view is incorrect, but
significant traction. Polling indicates that
that 32%
of Americans
Americans believe
combustible cigarettes
cigarettes and e-cigarettes
e-cigarettes are equally
equally harmful.
harmful. This
This
believe that combustible
means
million adult smokers
smokers believe
means that as many as
as 13 million
believe them
them to be equally harmful, and are
very unlikely
unlikely to switch
switch when
when switching
switching may
may save
save their
theirlives.
lives. People
People making
making misstatements
misstatements
very
about e-cigarettes
e-cigarettes have
intentionsto keep
keep kids
kids from being
being addicted
addicted to nicotine
nicotine
have the best of intentionsto
through e-cigarettes.
has always
always
through
e-cigarettes. But
But adults
adults misleading
misleadingkids
kidstotoget
getthem
them to
to do
do what we want has
been a failed strategy.
There
teen e-cigarette
e-cigarettesmoking.
smoking. According
According to
"There also is
is a misconception
misconception about
about the prevalence of teen
National Youth
Youth Tobacco
Tobacco Survey,
Survey, 13%
American high
high school
school students
students smoked
the National
13% of American
smoked an
an ecigarette once or more
more in
in the
thelast
last30
30days.
days.This
This includes
includes regular
regular use and experimental
experimental use.
use. As
As
figure is
is repeated,
repeated, the number
number 13%
13% is
is used
used without
without that
that qualification.
qualification. After
few
the figure
After aa few
repetitions, people then tend to
to assume
assume that
that 13%
13% are
are regular
regular users.
users. However, regular
regular useif
useif
defined by usage in 20 or more
more days
days in the
the last
last 30
30 daysis
daysis actually 2%. The numbers should be
seen
used e-cigarettes
e-cigarettes once
once or more in
in the
the last
last 30
30 days;
days; 2%
2% have
have used
used an eseen together13%
together-13% used
cigarette 20
20 or
or more
more days
days in the
the last 30 days."
days.
###