Statement from the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians
Santina Wheat, MD, MPH – IAFP board of directors
March 16, 2016

Family physicians in Chicago and across Illinois celebrate “Kick Butts Day” and cheer for this new law to raise the purchase age for tobacco products to 21 in Chicago. This law will reduce nicotine addiction and tobacco use, especially among young people. We thank Mayor Emanuel and Aldermen Ed Burke and Joe Moreno for sponsoring this important legislation. We give a second “high-five” to Ald. Burke for the new ordinance to ban smokeless tobacco in our city’s sports venues.

Family physicians care for many teenagers and young adults. We know that teens are still developing both physically and emotionally. This is a crucial period where important choices are made and habits are formed. Some of them are already parents, with children of their own to protect from second hand smoke!

This ordinance will have a profound positive effect to improve the health of our young people. At the same time, we must also be ready to provide them immediate help: in our practices, through the Tobacco Quitline (866-QUIT-YES) and in community-based services. Family physicians and our pediatric colleagues are ready to help them!

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Contact: Ginnie Flynn at 630-427-8004 or [email protected]