To the Editor:

Re “Trump Backs Off Limits on Vaping” (front page, Nov. 18):

In New York Cit y, 17 percent of our public high school students and 7 percent of our middle-school students report using e-cigarettes. Touted as cessation tools, these addictive and dangerous products have instead proved to be an on-ramp to nicotine addiction for children and for a significant portion of adults who smoke e-cigarettes. Almost one-fifth of adu lt New Yorkers who use them never smoked before.

This situation is far too urgent to wait for the federal government to act. We agree with some recommendations by the editorial board, like increased investment in public health infrastructure and research (“An E-Cigarette Ban Is Not a Solution,” editorial, Nov. 13). Still, we cannot ignore the important role that restricting product access has played in tobacco control.

Youths cite flavors as one of the top reasons they started using e-cigarettes. We know that previous bans on flavored tobacco products have been effective in curbing youth use, and the bans on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes that have been enacted in some localities are a crucial step.

All approaches must be considered in tackling this new scourge to public health.

Oxiris Barbot

New York

The writer is New York City’s health commissioner.