By MARK SARDELLA
WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield Board of Health is considering adopting the “Tobacco-Free Generation” policy initiative, which is described as a path toward eliminating the addiction, disease and premature deaths caused by tobacco products.
Representatives of Wakefield’s Health and Human Services Department appeared before the Town Council last week to discuss the details of the proposed policy. Director Anthony Chui and Tobacco Control Coordinator Maureen Buzby explained that under the Tobacco Free Generation initiative, no one born on or after a certain permanent date, like Jan. 1, 2004, can ever be sold tobacco products. Enforcement is simplified because the date of birth for tobacco sales never changes.
Buzby said that the initiative amounts to a “slow phase out” of tobacco sales, by gradually increasing the minimum age for tobacco sales.
No one who is already 21 years old would lose the ability to purchase tobacco products, Buzby explained. A permanent age limit will also limit older kids buying tobacco products for younger kids, as the minimum age at which one can legally buy tobacco gets higher each year, effectively phasing out the supply chain.
The Wakefield Board of Health held a public hearing last week on the Tobacco-Free Generation initiative. Letters in support and opposition were received, but no vote was taken by the board.
Board of Health member Laurel Gourville was also at last week’s Town Council meeting. She reported that the town of Brookline has already adopted a permanent age for the purchase of tobacco products. She said that the Board of Health wanted to watch the Brookline experience before officially adopting a similar policy in Wakefield.
Buzby provided an update on tobacco prevention efforts. She noted that tobacco use is still the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. She talked about some of the federal bans and restrictions as well as the regulations passed by local health boards, such as restrictions on flavored tobacco products.
Vaping in schools continues to be a serious issue, she said, noting that with nicotine’s powerful addiction properties, once a kid starts it can be too late. The vaping devices are made to look like other devices, like flash drives, making them harder to identify.
Busby talked about the tobacco industry’s latest innovation to get around existing restrictions. She showed examples of “nicotine pouches,” which she explained are not made from tobacco but “nicotine salts.” A tiny nicotine pouch is placed between the cheek and the gum, and the absorbed nicotine provides a quicker hit to the brain, she explained.
The pouches are also cheap, she said. A tin of pouches with the nicotine equivalent of 2.5 packs of cigarettes is sold for as little as $3.49.
She also talked about the tobacco companies’ efforts to get around menthol bans by introducing non-menthol cigarettes with a chemical that mimics menthol. “Menthol cards” are also sold that can be inserted into a pack on non-menthol cigarettes to add the menthol flavor.
Town Council members expressed support for setting a permanent date of birth for tobacco sales.
“This is about putting big tobacco out of business,” said Councilor Anne Danehy, “and they should be out of business.”