Melania Trump Joins Others in Urging E-Cig Companies to Stop Advertising to Teens

First lady Melania Trump called on e-cigarette companies to stop advertising to teenagers on Monday while urging youth to avoid the perils of addiction. Appearing at a U.S. Drug Enforcement rally to kick off a drug abuse prevention awareness event, Trump said that young people should be warned about the risks of using e-cigarettes.

“It is important to me that we all work to educate children and families about the dangers associated with this habit,” said the first lady.

The president and Mrs. Trump have a teenaged son, 13-year-old Barron. She also called on manufacturers to end the marketing of e-cigarettes to young people.

“Marketing this addictive product to children must stop,” said Trump.

In September, the Trump administration announced that it was developing plans to issue a federal ban on all flavored e-cigarettes in part as a response to the rash of serious lung injuries linked to vaping that continues to plague the United States.

“The vaping has become a very big business, as I understand it, like a giant business in a very short period of time. But we can’t allow people to get sick and we can’t have our youth be so affected,” the president said.

“We’re going to have to do something about it,” he added.

First Lady Warns of Perils of Drug Addiction

The first lady’s remarks came during a DEA rally to promote the October 23 beginning of Red Ribbon Week, an event that encourages young people to take a pledge to not use drugs. At the rally, Trump also warned the audience of the dangers of drug addiction.

“In my time as first lady, I have traveled to hospital and visited rehabilitation centers where I have seen first-hand the horrible results of drug abuse,” she said. “Our administration will continue working hard in fighting the opioid crisis.”

Trump also said that young people struggling with drug use should be urged to face their addiction and seek treatment.

“We need to continue encouraging teenagers and young adults who have fallen into drug addiction to be brave enough to admit it, to talk about it, and to get help,” urged the first lady.

“Illegal use of drugs destroys too many families in our country. Drugs are taking a toll on our most vulnerable,” she added.

Trump vowed to continue working through her Be Best initiative to help young people avoid drug abuse.

“I will continue to address addiction as long as it affects our children, our youth, and our schools,” she said.