This is the step we need to stop the youth vaping epidemic

In the wake of preliminary data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey that shows another staggering increase in youth e-cigarette use, with more than 1 in 4 high school students reporting vaping in 2019, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced a plan to take flavored e-cigarettes off the market pending further review.    

It would be a major step forward in helping to ensure kids don’t get hooked on a highly addictive and dangerous product. According to the FDA’s own analysis, 70 percent of youth vapers say they use the products because “they come in flavors I like.” 

“I want to see the plan implemented immediately,” Matt Wellington, our End the Nicotine Trap campaign director, told WebMD. “[The FDA should also] ban all other flavored tobacco products, cigarettes, and cigars, because flavors appeal to kids. I think the FDA has dragged its feet historically on decisions like this. They should have done this years ago.”

Read the article here.

Photo Caption: The FDA is preparing to finalize guidance to prohibit the sale of all flavored e-cigarette products other than tobacco flavored. Photo Credit: Public Domain