As Food and Drug Administration (FDA) aims to lower addiction, the agency is now looking at reducing the amount of nicotine in all tobacco products. This is the first time that the agency has considered such regulation. According to Scott Gottlieb, the commissioner of FDA, they are overwhelmed with the number of death and diseases caused by cigarette addiction.

In the United States, around 5.6 million young people today will suffer untimely death due to nicotine use. Tobacco is considered the only legal product that can kill half of its long-term users.

The effect of FDA regulation

Health practitioners who are aware of the dangers of nicotine addiction may be optimistic with the FDA’s move. However, tobacco’s stocks in the market have declined since the announcement. This news has been confirmed by Rob Stein on “Morning Edition.” According to Bloomberg, stocks of Altria Group, makers of Marlboro, have declined 9.5 percent, while the British American Tobacco has gone 6.8 percent lower. The American Tobacco Industry is said to be worth $130 billion.

Other products affected by this new development such as vaping and electronic cigarettes, will be given ample time for product review by the agency. Makers of cigars, hookah and pipe tobaccos will have more than four years, or until August 8, 2021, to submit their applications.

Though there is no specific date as of now, FDA will conduct a public comment session discussing the flavors of e-cigarettes and cigars that appeal to kids and teens such as menthol and other enticing variants.

Tobacco is the leading cause of preventable death

In the United States, it is the nicotine-containing products that cause preventable disease and death.

Every year, there are more than 480,000 deaths associated with tobacco use. Those affected by the disease have lost their productivity and has a direct effect on health care amounting to almost $300 billion a year.

Though this is the first time FDA will regulate the nicotine level in tobacco products, a lot of people and experts on the field has been wanting to implement such law according to Gottlieb.

The newest policy from the agency will leverage on the law enacted by the Democratic Congress and then President Barack Obama called the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Gottlieb shared his commitment in fighting epidemic opioid addiction and had vowed to fight nicotine addiction with the same fervor.