There've been theories and ideas around the fact that e-cigarettes may be helpful from a harm reduction perspective in helping people who are already on cigarettes (that) have had trouble quitting actually get off cigarettes, if the data indeed bears that out, then I think we should absolutely embrace that and use e-cigarettes in targeted ways.

Vivek Murthy

Categorized in : Health

Drug addiction is tearing our communities and our country apart, and until we decide we're going to think differently about it, until we decide that we're going to invest as a country in prevention and treatment, until we decide that as individuals we're going to step up and do our part to address this epidemic, we're not going to solve this.

addiction country thinking

I think people often forget how powerful they are. Sometimes it just takes one voice to save a life. When we speak up we can not only change a life or save a life, but we can also make it possible for other people to speak up. If we harness the collective power of people's voices around America to address the opioid epidemic, I have no doubt that we can overcome it.

powerful people thinking

The surgeon general is responsible for sharing scientifically-based information with the public so that they can improve their health. But I will say personally that my goal as surgeon general is to help build a culture of prevention in America so that we are a nation that is as good at preventing illness as we are at treating it.

information goal america

Drug addiction is an incredibly difficult challenge to manage on one's own. When I think of all the stories I've heard from people, the common denominator is that they all were ultimately able to find somebody who was willing to support them. Maybe it was someone they knew, like a parent or a sibling or a friend; other times it was a treatment center with a compassionate staff who didn't give up on them. That made all the difference.

sibling giving-up thinking

I have to be careful when I'm around sweets. by Vivek Murthy

I have to be careful when I'm around sweets.

careful be-careful sweet

My weakness is sweets. I like bread pudding and cheesecake in par... by Vivek Murthy

My weakness is sweets. I like bread pudding and cheesecake in particular.

bread-pudding weakness sweet

Most people think that you need to be healthy in order to happy. by Vivek Murthy

Most people think that you need to be healthy in order to happy.

order people thinking

Being Indian-American, I have tremendous potential to grow facial... by Vivek Murthy

Being Indian-American, I have tremendous potential to grow facial hair.

american-indian grows hair

Right now we have millions of people in our country who are suffering in isolation, thinking that they are the only ones who are dealing with drug addiction, who don't realize that on their own block there are other people and families. They think they're alone and they think they're going to be judged and they don't want to talk about it. But when people do come forward and share their stories it's incredibly liberating, and it gives other people permission to tell their stories too.

block country thinking

A lot of people have misconceptions about what the surgeon genera... by Vivek Murthy

A lot of people have misconceptions about what the surgeon general does.

surgeons doe people

It's also personal to me because I've cared for many patients over the years who have suffered from asthma and have seen firsthand how frightening it can be to suddenly be wheezing and fighting for every breath, asthma can be very difficult for patients, but also for their families. The impacts of climate change could make the situation worse.

I'm concerned about e-cigarettes, and I think this is an area where we are in desperate need of clarity, i think it's important for us to understand the impact, particularly on youth, before we allow the full-fledged spread of these e-cigarettes and then later have problems that we have to deal with.