THE LATEST
WITH THE CONSTANT NEWS STREAM, reliable information about the
vaping epidemic – and what you can do about it – can be hard to find.
We’ve identified high quality information that gives you the latest updates on the youth vaping epidemic, health effects of vaping, health communication best practices, and advocacy resources for communities.
Rising vaping rates among lesbian, gay, and bisexual young people outpace peers, widening tobacco use gap
Truth Initiative
,
June 29, 2022
New research from the Truth Initiative finds that between 2020 and 2021, e-cigarette use rates rose at higher rates among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth compared to their heterosexual peers. More specifically, survey results indicated LGB youth
had higher rates of trying e-cigarettes, higher rates of currently using e-cigarettes, and increasing rates over time. These alarming increases threaten to widen the gap in disparities, discrimination and stigma that this population already experiences.
F.D.A. Orders Juul to Stop Selling E-Cigarettes
The New York Times
,
June 23, 2022
On Thursday, June 23, the FDA ordered Juul to stop selling e-cigarettes on the U.S. market. The order affects all of Juul’s products on the market, which is the primary source of the company’s sales. In its ruling, the FDA said that Juul had provided insufficient and conflicting data about potentially harmful chemicals that could leach out of Juul’s proprietary e-liquid pods.
Juul Soon to Be Ordered Off the Market by FDA, WSJ Reports
Bloomberg
,
June 22, 2022
FDA is preparing to order Juul Labs Inc. to take its e-cigarettes off the U.S. market. The decision could be announced as soon as the week of 6/20. This announcement would come after a nearly two-year review of data presented by the vaping company, which sought authorization for its tobacco- and menthol-flavored products to stay on the U.S. market.
FDA Launches Campaign Aimed at Preventing E-Cigarette Use Among American Indian/Alaska Native Youth
FDA News Release
,
June 08, 2022
The FDA announced the launch of the “Next Legends” Youth E-cigarette Prevention Campaign. This campaign is a part of ongoing efforts to protect youth from the dangers of tobacco use. The campaign focuses on educating American Indian/Alaska Native youth about the harms of vaping through unique branding and tailored messaging created to inspire a new generation to live Native strong and vape-free.
Intermountain study: Vaping, e-cig use have lasting health impacts
Daily Herald
,
June 08, 2022
A new study done by Intermountain Healthcare, the largest healthcare provider in the Intermountain West of the United States, shows that many people who vape or use e-cigarettes can experience significant chronic issues that can persist up to a year or more. Published in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society, this study found patients who suffered from e-cigarette or vaping associated lung injury (EVALI) had a high risk of developing depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress and respiratory disability one year after their injury.
Study Shows Public Perception of E-Cigarettes vs. Cigarettes Harms Changed Sharply During EVALI Epidemic and COVID-19 Pandemic
American Cancer Society
,
June 08, 2022
Published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, a new study shows perceptions of e-cigarettes as being “more harmful” than cigarettes by adults in the United States more than doubled between 2019-2020 and perceptions of e-cigarettes as “less harmful” declined between 2018-2020. Led by researchers at the American Cancer Society, the study also found that increase in cigarette smoking prevalence (2019-2020) was restricted to those who perceived e-cigarettes as “more harmful” than cigarettes, while increases in prevalence of e-cigarette use was restricted to those who perceived e-cigarettes as “less harmful” than cigarettes.
Rutgers to Be Tobacco-Free by 2023
Rutgers University
,
June 01, 2022
Rutgers University announced their 'Tobacco-Free by 2023" initiative, where all campuses will be declared tobacco-free. This includes traditional tobacco products and e-cigarettes, hookah, novel tobacco products, and smokeless tobacco products such as chewing tobacco.
.webp)
Los Angeles will clamp down on selling flavored tobacco products
Los Angeles Times
,
June 01, 2022
A new Los Angeles ordinance will ban some businesses from selling tobacco products that come in sweet, spicy and minty flavors, including menthol cigarettes, flavored cigars and liquid pods for electronic cigarettes. Council members recently voted 12 to 0 to pass the ordinance, which now goes to Mayor Eric Garcetti for his signature. The new restrictions are slated to go into effect in January.
.webp)
Over 1 Million Kids and Young Adults Vaped Every Day in 2019
MedPage Today
,
May 31, 2022
A new study, published in the Pediatrics journal, foud that the total number of daily e-cigarette users under 21 years of age rose to more than 1 million by 2019. Of those, over half used Juul products in particular. The authors suggested that this rapid increase is likely due to a combination of "innovative" social media marketing tactics, technology that made higher nicotine concentration aerosols "less aversive," and the appeal of kid-friendly flavors.
E-Cigarette use costs US $15 billion per year, reports UCSF in first study of its kind
UCSF
,
May 23, 2022
New research done by researchers at the UC San Francisco School of Nursing found that electronic cigarette use costs the United States $15 billion annually in health care expenditures, which amounts to more than $2,000 per person a year. “Health care costs attributable to e-cigarette use are already greater than our estimates of health care costs attributable to cigar and smokeless tobacco use,” said ead author Yingning Wang, PhD, of the UCSF Institute for Health & Aging. “This is a concerning finding, given that e-cigarettes are a relatively new product whose impact is likely to increase over time.”
Published in Tobacco Control, this research is the first of its kind to examine the health care costs of e-cigarette use among adults 18 and older.
US, global experts discuss vaping, smoking at e-cigarette summit
Loop World News
,
May 20, 2022
The annual E-Cigarette summit was recently held in Washington, DC hosting a range of experts including representatives from the FDA, medical experts, academics, and more. Experts discussed policies that guide the use of vaping products and how to tackle smoking cessation.
US, global experts discuss vaping, smoking at e-cigarette summit
Loop World News
,
May 20, 2022
The annual E-Cigarette summit was recently held in Washington, DC hosting a range of experts including representatives from the FDA, medical experts, academics, and more. Experts discussed policies that guide the use of vaping products and how to tackle smoking cessation.
Major Uptick Reported in Cannabis Vaping for All Adolescents
Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
,
May 19, 2022
New research finds that cannabis vaping is on the rise amongst adolescents in the United States. Done at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, this study found that the frequency of vaping cannabis among adolescents from all demographics is reported 6 or more times per month, and is rising faster than occasional use.
.jpeg)
FDA Must Be ‘Judicious’ in Vaping Enforcement, Califf Says
Bloomberg Law
,
May 19, 2022
FDA lead says the agency needs more resources to speed up e-cigarette review and is avoiding making hasty decisions that could potentially incite lawsuits from the industry.
“This is an industry that has amazing capabilities on the legal front,” Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert M. Califf said during a House subcommittee hearing. “If we make one single error in the process, we can be set back for years in these applications.”
FDA Must Be ‘Judicious’ in Vaping Enforcement, Califf Says
Bloomberg Law
,
May 19, 2022
FDA lead says the agency needs more resources to speed up e-cigarette review and is avoiding making hasty decisions that could potentially incite lawsuits from the industry.
“This is an industry that has amazing capabilities on the legal front,” Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Robert M. Califf said during a House subcommittee hearing. “If we make one single error in the process, we can be set back for years in these applications.”
Ask the Experts: Educators’ Questions About Vaping Answered
We Are Teachers, Everfi
,
May 13, 2022
Teachers nationwide may worry about student use of e-cigarettes as vaping impacts the classroom experience in most middle and high schools. A collaboration between We Are Teachers, Everfi, and Truth Initiative, this question & answer segment weighs in on educators’ most pressing questions about vaping.
Study reveals most effective anti-vaping messages for teens
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
,
May 10, 2022
A first-of-its-kind study, using the Vaping Prevention Resource, highlights what an effective anti-vaping advertisement geared to teens should include. Published in the journal Tobacco Control, by researchers at UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, the study shows that anti-vaping advertisements have the greatest impact when they emphasize adverse consequences and harms of vaping, use negative imagery, and avoid memes, hashtags and other “teen-centric” communication styles.
Vaping Doesn't Cut CV Risk for Those Who Also Smoke — Combined use as bad for the heart as smoking alone
MedPage Today
,
May 06, 2022
New research shows that dual e-cigarette use with conventional tobacco cigarettes wasn't any less risky than only smoking when looking at cardiovascular events. Published in the scientific journal, Circulation, their results suggested that combining smoking with e-cigarette use does not reduce cardiovascular disease events and that quitting both products is required to ensure a mitigation of risk.
"We're concerned that we're going to have a whole generation of kids hooked on nicotine and this will be a gateway drug," said David Balis, MD, who runs the smoking cessation clinics at Parkland Hospital and at UT Southwestern Simmons Cancer Center, both in Dallas. "That has to be somewhere in the equation."
Students address vaping concerns at capitol - St. Paul, Minnesota
Winona Post
,
May 06, 2022
Middle and high school students from Winona and Martin counties in Minneosta recently met with their elected officials to discuss their passion for helping students and preventing substance misuse. Held on April 27, this Day at the Capitol included students taking the stage to talk about the vaping-related issues they see in their communities, and present solutions to their legislators. Solutions discussed included a state level ban on flavored tobacco products and increased funding for tobacco prevention work.
Bill To Ban Flavored Nicotine In Colorado Passes In The State House
CBS Denver
,
May 04, 2022
A bill that would ban flavored nicotine products in Colorado passed in the House, with exemptions, but it still has to make its way through the Senate. Proponents of the bill gathered outside the Colorado State Capitol to send a message to lawmakers inside. “We say no to mentholated products. We say no to flavored tobacco,” said Maisha Fields with Salud Family Health Centers.
Healthy Kids: Growing vaping concerns spark continued legislation efforts in Colorado
KRDO.com
,
April 27, 2022
COLORADO SPRINGS. Colo. (KRDO) -- Selling flavored tobacco and nicotine products could soon be illegal in Colorado if lawmakers approve a new bill that would prohibit their sale in the state. This push comes from the dangers associated with kids and teens using vapes and e-cigarettes.
San Diego City Council Votes to End Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products, Delivering Huge Win for Kids and Blow Against Big Tobacco
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
,
April 25, 2022
The San Diego City Council took recent action to end the sale of flavored tobacco products – including flavored e-cigarettes, menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. The Council’s action will help prevent the tobacco industry from addicting a new generation of kids. Led by Council Members Marni von Wilpert and Jennifer Campbell, they are leading the way in protecting the health of San Diego’s kids and promoting health equity. A final pro forma vote is expected May 9. Once enacted, the law will make San Diego the largest city in the country to end the sale of menthol cigarettes.
Girl Scout receives Gold Award for vaping prevention podcast
NBC 11 News
,
April 25, 2022
Forty-five Colorado Girl Scouts recently earned one of the highest honors in the organization. Celeste Fullerton, one of the 45 recipients, is being recognized for her vaping prevention program and podcast that address its dangers.
“Hi, my name is Celeste, and I’m doing a podcast for adolescents explaining the effects on what we know vaping nicotine does to the lungs,” said Celeste.
Girl Scout receives Gold Award for vaping prevention podcast
NBC 11 News
,
April 25, 2022
Forty-five Colorado Girl Scouts recently earned one of the highest honors in the organization. Celeste Fullerton, one of the 45 recipients, is being recognized for her vaping prevention program and podcast that address its dangers.
“Hi, my name is Celeste, and I’m doing a podcast for adolescents explaining the effects on what we know vaping nicotine does to the lungs,” said Celeste.
E-cigarettes can increase inflammation in the brain, heart, lungs, and colon
MedicalNewsToday
,
April 21, 2022
A new study done by researchers at University of California, San Diego, finds that using pod-based e-cigarettes daily may elevate inflammatory markers across multiple organ systems. Published in the journal eLife, this study uncovers further effects of e-cigarette aerosol exposure on different organs tested in mice. It also examines how certain e-cigarette flavors contribute to such effects.
Alaska Senate passes bill to raise smoking, vaping age from 19 to 21
Alaska News Source
,
April 20, 2022
JUNEAU, Alaska (KTUU) - The Alaska Senate has passed a bill that would raise the legal age to buy and sell tobacco products from 19 to 21. It would also impose a statewide tax on vaping.
Sen. Gary Stevens, R-Kodiak, said the goal of Senate Bill 45 is to prevent and reduce youth smoking. The National Youth Tobacco Survey found an almost 80% rise in e-cigarette usage among high schoolers between 2017 and 2018.
“We must act now, Mr. President, to face this ruthless industry,” Stevens said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in 2018 that there is an “epidemic” of e-cigarette use among young people in the U.S. who often find the “kid-friendly” flavors appealing.
.jpeg)
Review Highlights Need for Stricter Health Policies Amid Rising e-Cigarette Use
American Journal of Managed Care
,
April 20, 2022
A systematic review published in NPJ Primary Care Respiratory Medicine highlights the emerging trends in e-cigarette use and opportunities for health promotion. The review showed a 19% increase in e-cigarette use among American teenagers between 2011 and 2018, consistent with similar upticks in usage in Canada and the United Kingdom.
The review's authors recommend primary care and public health strategies to be put in effect to protect young people and limit unnecessary exposure, with four specific suggestions around strengthening global policies, increasing physician and public health education, and increasing collaboration between public health workforces.
Juul to pay $22.5 million to settle Washington vaping suit
The Associated Press
,
April 13, 2022
Washington State just announced a settlement where Juul Labs will pay $22.5 million, in addition to agreeing to a variety of reforms to prevent underage use and sales of e-cigarettes. This is the fourth of related settlements with states by Juul within the past year.
“Juul’s conduct harmed Washingtonians,” said state Attorny General, Bob Ferguson at a news conference in Seattle. “They harmed the youth of our state.”
UNLV to become smoke-free campus in fall semester
UNLV News Center
,
April 08, 2022
University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) will join approximately 2,000 universities across the country that have become smoke-free campuses on August 15, 2022. This updated policy was led by the UNLV School of Public Health in collaboration with the Southern Nevada Health District, American Lung Association, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Nevada Public Health Association and the Nevada Tobacco Prevention Coalition, and will apply to students, faculty, staff and visitors on all UNLV properties.
"By becoming a smoke-free, vape-free, and tobacco-free campus, those at UNLV will be protected from involuntary exposure to tobacco and passive smoke," said said Shawn Gerstenberger, dean of the UNLV School of Public Health. "It will also establish a supportive atmosphere for those trying to quit tobacco, and create a culture of wellness for the campus community."
Vaping is now banned in public spaces across Houston
Houston Public Media
,
March 30, 2022
The Houston City Council recently voted unanimously to ban vaping and e-cigarettes in public spaces in Houston. Previous rules prohibited smoking in an enclosed public space or workplace, within 25 feet of a building entrance or exit, outdoor arenas and public transit stops. The recent vote expands this to include electronic smoking devices, which include electronic cigarettes and cigars, vapes and any other device that uses vapors or aerosol liquids.
“This is something that we’re voting on to protect the health and safety of people from secondhand inhalation,” said Councilmember Abbie Kamin.
Why the Palm Springs school district is suing vaping company Juul
Palm Springs Desert Sun
,
March 30, 2022
A school district in Palm Springs, California recently filed a complaint against e-cigarette manufacturer Juul Labs, Inc., joining a number of other school districts that have sued the company for allegedly using false and deceptive statements that have led to a "youth nicotine epidemic of historic proportions.”
The lawsuit reads:'Students in Plaintiff's schools have openly charged e-cigarette devices in classrooms, causing disruption and diverting staff resources away from classroom instruction,' and 'Other students, addicted to nicotine, have demonstrated anxious, distracted and acting out behaviors, causing disruption and diverting staff resources away from classroom instruction and requiring additional time and attention for addicted students,'.
FDA permits another e-cigarette, pledges decisions soon on big brands
The Washington Post
,
March 24, 2022
The FDA recently authorized a number of tobacco-flavored vaping products made by the company Logic. Specifically, they're allowing Logic to continue marketing certain e-cigarette devices and prefilled cartridges because "the benefits — in helping adult smokers move away from traditional cigarettes — outweigh the risk of young people starting to use e-cigarettes." They have not yet decided on the company's request to sell menthol-flavored cartridges. Officials are speculating that further announcements on the authorization of other big-name brands is coming soon.
E-cigarettes reverse decades of decline in percentage of US youth struggling to quit nicotine
Michigan News, University of Michigan
,
March 22, 2022
Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a new study done by researchers at the University of Michigan shows that the number of adolescents who have attempted to quit e-cigarettes and failed has grown with the rapid increase of teen e-cigarette use in the past five years. “These results indicate that failed nicotine quit attempt levels have gone back to where they were about 17 years ago for adolescents,” said Richard Miech, research professor at the U-M Institute for Social Research and lead author of the study.
Does youth tobacco use drop after cities ban flavored tobacco sales?
Mass General Hospital
,
March 22, 2022
Although a study of San Francisco reported youth smoking increasing following a ban on flavored tobacco sales in that city, a closer analysis indicates data on youth smoking were collected before the ban was enforced.
The research team also examined data from Oakland, California, after a flavor ban was enforced, that appears to support a decreasing trend in the use of regular (combustible) cigarettes among youth.
FDA Receives Authorization to Regulate Synthetic Nicotine
The National Law Review
,
March 16, 2022
On March 15, President Joe Biden signed a $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill to fund the federal government through September. The bill, as passed, includes a provision amending the definition of “tobacco product” in Section 201(rr) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (“FDCA”) as “any product made or derived from tobacco, or containing nicotine from any source, that is intended for human consumption.” 21 U.S.C. 321(rr). Now that it is law, this provision closes the synthetic nicotine “loophole” and puts synthetic nicotine products under the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) tobacco regulatory authority.
Vaping alters mouth microbes
NIH Research Matters
,
March 15, 2022
New research finds that people who used electronic cigarettes had unique microbial communities in their mouths that more closely resembled those of smokers than of nonsmokers. A team of researchers led by Drs. Deepak Saxena and Xin Li from New York University examined 84 volunteers over a six-month period: 27 people who smoked conventional cigarettes, 28 who only used e-cigarettes, and 29 nonsmokers. While more research is needed, the results of this study may show an increased risk of gum disease for those who use e-cigarettes.
2021 Findings on Youth Tobacco Use
FDA
,
March 10, 2022
In March 2022, the FDA and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released findings on use of tobacco products by high school (grades 9-12) and middle school (grades 6-8) students from the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report “Tobacco Product Use and Associated Factors Among U.S. Middle and High School Students – National Youth Tobacco Survey, United States, 2021.”
The Loophole That’s Fueling a Return to Teenage Vaping
New York Times
,
March 08, 2022
The Food and Drug Administration’s crackdown on flavored e-cigarettes in 2020 was meant to be a comprehensive, aggressive strategy to curtail the epidemic of teenage vaping.
But two years later, sales of disposable, flavored e-cigarettes have soared. Some companies have moved just beyond the reach of the F.D.A. by swapping out one key ingredient. They have circumvented federal oversight of tobacco plant-derived nicotine by using an unregulated synthetic version.
The agency had nearly wiped out the use of flavors in devices like Juul, once the teenage favorite, that could be refilled with pods in flavors like crème brûlée and mango. Jumping into the breach, though, companies like the teen favorite Puff Bar are selling disposable devices filled with candy flavors and tobacco-free or synthetic nicotine.
Johns Creek tweaks law to limit vape shops
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
,
March 03, 2022
Johns Creek has tweaked its zoning laws for smoke/vape shops, which includes requiring new businesses to be located in retail shopping centers and not near places of worship and other organizations.
The Tobacco Giant That Won't Stop Funding Anti-Smoking Programs for Kids
Time
,
February 14, 2022
Tobacco giant Altria, which owns the maker of Marlboro cigarettes and a stake in vaping company Juul Labs, has for years quietly funded substance-use-prevention training for middle and high school students, despite ample research suggesting that industry-sponsored school programs do not discourage teenagers from smoking—and may in fact do the opposite.
Study: E-Cigs Are Not Helping People Quit Smoking
MedPage Today
,
February 07, 2022
E-cigarettes may not be helpful for people who want to quit smoking, an analysis of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) cohort showed.
Among survey respondents who used e-cigarettes to quit prior to 2017, 9.9% successfully abstained from cigarettes for over 12 months, which was lower than for those who used nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or a pharmaceutical aid only (15.2%) and for those who did not use any product in their attempt to quit (18.6%), reported John Pierce, PhD, of the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science at the University of California San Diego, and colleagues.
Santa Ana bans the sale of flavored tobacco in the city
Today90.com
,
February 03, 2022
After months of debate, the Santa Ana City Council on Tuesday voted in favor (7-0) of an ordinance banning the sale of flavored tobacco products, including hookah.
High school students from the city of Santa Ana who have advocated against the sale of this product due to its effects on communities of color and low-income communities, expressed their satisfaction at the end of the vote.
Hours before the vote, Cecy Rivera, 16, said Santa Ana youth face obstacles on a daily basis, from food insecurity to housing instability; That is why many resort to harmful methods as an escape from their problems and adopt habits such as electronic cigarettes.
Anti-tobacco groups urge FDA to act on outstanding applications for e-cigarettes
Fox 13 Memphis
,
January 19, 2022
Multiple anti-tobacco groups recently sent a letter to the FDA urging for movement on the pending decisions for which e-cigarettes can remain on the market. “We write to urge the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to expedite decisions on the premarket tobacco product applications (PMTAs) still pending before the agency involving the flavored e-cigarette products, including those with menthol flavoring and, based on the best available scientific evidence, deny the pending applications for all non-tobacco flavored e-cigarettes in order to protect the nation’s young people from the health harms of these products,” the letter said. It was signed by organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Heart Association, and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
E-Cigarette Users at Higher Risk for Symptomatic COVID-19
Contagion Live
,
January 17, 2022
A newly published study shows that people who use electronic vaping devices and contract COVID-19 are more likely to experience symptoms. "During a pandemic with a highly transmissible respiratory pathogen like SARS-CoV-2, it is highly advisable to reduce or stop vaping and e-cigarette use, and minimize the potential for increased symptoms and lung injury," said co-author and critical care specialist Robert Vassallo, M.D. This study was published in the Journal of Primary Care & Community Health.
New Truth Initiative report shows troubling use of tobacco imagery in tv shows, movies and music videos most popular among youth as e-cigarette epidemic persists
truthinitiative.org
,
January 11, 2022
A new report released today by Truth Initiative—the national public health organization dedicated to achieving a culture where young people reject smoking, vaping and nicotine—finds pervasive smoking and vaping imagery lit up screens in 2020 amid the persistent youth e-cigarette epidemic. While You Were Streaming: Nicotine on Demand is the fourth annual report from Truth Initiative that monitors tobacco imagery across the most popular streaming and broadcast shows among 15- to 24-year-olds each year, and the impact these depictions have on youth vaping and smoking initiation. For the first time, the report includes data on shows that youth frequently binge-watched, as well as top newly released movies and Billboard chart-topping music videos finding that tobacco pervades some of the most watched entertainment content of the year.
New social media campaign to help Gateway educate parents on teen vaping
The Shawnee News-Star
,
January 04, 2022
The More than Meets the Eye campaign is an interactive activity that allows parents to test their knowledge of vaping and alcohol items that are commonly disguised as everyday items in their teens’ bedrooms.
Oregon Stores Now Must Pay and Register to Sell Tobacco and E-Cigarette Products
KDRV-TV
,
January 04, 2022
Oregon now requires retailers to buy a license in order to sell tobacco or e-cigarette and vaping products. Before January 1, Oregon was one of only seven US states that didn't require a tobacco retail license of some sort.
Retailers must now purchase a license annually for $953 from the Department of Revenue in order to legally sell tobacco products.“This law is an important step in stopping those sales and providing further protection for youth,” said Krista Klingensmith, Tobacco Prevention and Education Program Coordinator for Jackson County Public Health.
American Lung Association offers advice for freedom from smoking, vaping, tobacco use
WTOP News
,
December 31, 2021
The American Lung Association shares tips and resources for freedom from smoking, vaping, and tobacco use.
“If you’ve relapsed back into tobacco use, if you’ve made a quit attempt in the past — don’t get discouraged,” said Jennifer Folkenroth, the American Lung Association’s National Senior Director of Tobacco Programs. “Don’t get discouraged. Stop, think about what worked in the past, think about what didn’t work, and then adapt your plan for this next quit attempt."
Flavored Vapes still in stores despite federal ban
NorthCentralPA.com
,
December 31, 2021
A new Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids report shows that flavored e-cigarettes remain widely available despite federal ruling that should have pulled the products off store shelves in early September.
Over 100 flavored vaping products with "kid-friendly" flavors like Gummy Bear, Funnel Cake, Fruit Punch, Berry Crunch Cereal and Blueberry Lemonade are still sold through the five top online e-cigarette retailers. "Flavored e-cigarettes of precisely the kind that youth are using are widely available both on the internet and in retail outlets," said Matthew Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
Colorado lawmakers to target flavors in vaping and smoking products in 2022
The Denver Post
,
December 22, 2021
Denver state lawmakers are considering banning flavored smoking and vaping products across Colorado.
Denver previously failed passing similar bans after Mayor Michael Hancock vetoed the City Council vote and members failed to overturn his veto. He and other councilors cited a need to have statewide regulations, saying "a ban in Denver wouldn’t achieve the goal of keeping these products out of the hands of teens when surrounding municipalities didn’t have the same regulations."
New Report: E-Cigarettes in Kid-Friendly Flavors Remain Widely Available Three Months After Deadline for FDA Action
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
,
December 17, 2021
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Three months after a court-ordered deadline for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to decide what e-cigarette products can stay on the market, FDA delays have left e-cigarettes in kid-friendly flavors widely available across the country, according to a new report released by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
How companies like Puff Bar have avoided FDA regulation: "The industry can innovate around it"
CBS News
,
December 15, 2021
Nearly two years ago, the Food and Drug Administration banned flavored e-cigarettes, like Juul, citing their popularity among teens. But some vaping products have managed to avoid regulation by the FDA even as they grow increasingly popular among kids.
Tobacco control and prevention efforts in the U.S
Open Access Government
,
December 13, 2021
U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Director of the Center for Tobacco Products, Mitch Zeller, discusses here how the U.S. federal review of e-cigarettes and other tobacco products helps protect public health
‘Mom! It’s a USB drive!’ Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey settles lawsuit against e-cigarette company accused of using memes to market to youth
MassLive
,
December 10, 2021
Massachusetts Attorney General (AG) has settled a $50 million lawsuit with e-cigarette retailer Eonsmoke for what was described as a marketing campaign targeting youth through the use of memes and social media posts.
“Eonsmoke coordinated a campaign that intentionally targeted young people and sold dangerous and addictive vaping products directly to minors through their website,” Massachusetts AG Healey said in a statement. “We were the first to take action against this company and its owners, and today we are holding them accountable and permanently stopping them from conducting these illegal practices in our state.”
Now-defunct e-cigarette company agrees to pay $50 million for marketing to minors
ABC News
,
December 09, 2021
A now-defunct e-cigarette retailer has agreed to pay $50 million to resolve allegations it marketed and sold vaping products to minors by appealing to their social media preferences, taste for fruit flavors and penchant to listen to influencers.
Vaping Product Containing Fentanyl Makes Norwalk Students Sick: School Officials
NBC Connecticut
,
December 04, 2021
Brien McNahon high school, located in Connecticut, reported tainted vaping products laced with "harmful and deadly" drug, fentanyl. Local police determined that more than one student had used a tainted vaping product and that those students became very sick, requiring medical treatment.
Police are asking parents to be aware of the dangers of vaping products and to discuss these dangers with their children.
Men who vape have a higher risk of erectile dysfunction compared to non-vapers, study finds
INSIDER
,
December 01, 2021
A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine finds that men who use e-cigarettes are twice as likely to report having erectile dysfunction compared to those who don't.
This outcome was seen even after factoring in other risk factors, like age and heart disease.
"For men who smoke and want to switch because vaping is less harmful, they should try to limit their vaping because it is simply not risk free," said El Shahawy, assistant professor in the Department of Population Health at NYU Langone.
Whack-a-mole vaping policies do not protect youth, Stanford Medicine study shows
Stanford Medicine News Center
,
November 30, 2021
Flavored disposable e-cigarettes attractive to young users proliferated after the most recent round of FDA policy announcements, negating the policies’ intended effects, a Stanford study found.
Whack-a-mole vaping policies do not protect youth, Stanford Medicine study shows
Stanford Medicine News Center
,
November 30, 2021
New research published in the journal Addictive Behaviors calls out the FDA's approach to controlling specific e-cigarette devices and flavors, and its failure to prevent teens and young adults from vaping.
The study finds that rather than adopting policies that target device types and flavors, the FDA should implement comprehensive regulations covering all tobacco and nicotine-containing products to reduce youth nicotine use. Senior author, Bonnie Halpern-Felsher, Ph.D., a professor of pediatrics at Stanford Medicine, says "What we found was exactly what we were afraid of: Some young people were still using flavors and products that were purportedly restricted, and even more were using products that were completely uncontrolled".
Juul to pay $14.5 million to settle Arizona vaping lawsuit
ABC News
,
November 23, 2021
Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich Tuesday recently announced that Juul is settling with Arizona for $14.5 million. Juul admitted no wrongdoing while settling and called it “another step in our ongoing effort to reset our company.” A large chunk of the $14.5 million will be used for cessation and education programs that discourage use of vaping products with the goal of preventing youth vape use and nicotine addiction.
Build Back Better’s e-cigarette tax will make people smoke more
The Washington Post
,
November 22, 2021
The Build Back Better plan is intended to improve the health of the public with taxes on some nicotine products, including e-cigarettes, but excluding cigarettes. New economic research shows that cigarettes and e-cigarette use is closely tied to each other. "If cigarettes become more costly relative to e-cigarettes, some cigarette smokers will switch to e-cigarettes. Conversely, if e-cigarette prices rise relative to cigarette prices — as they will under the legislation’s tax provision — some people will smoke cigarettes who would otherwise have used e-cigarettes."
Budget directs Juul settlement funds toward tackling youth vaping and nicotine use
https://www.northcarolinahealthnews.org/
,
November 19, 2021
In North Carolina, where tobacco reigned as a king crop for ages, the state budget plan sailing through the General Assembly includes funds for the first time since 2012 to help prevent young people from getting addicted to nicotine through vaping, smoking and chewing tobacco.
NC Attorney General sues Juul co-founders, will investigate 20 e-cigarette companies
The News & Observer
,
November 16, 2021
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein is suing Juul Labs' co-founders. At a recent press conference, Stein announced he is filing a lawsuit for their alleged personal participation in the company’s marketing strategy towards youth.
Stein also announced the decision to investigate 20 companies involved in North Carolina's e-cigarette industry and the “use or suspected use” of their products by underage users.
Attorney General Josh Stein Announces Lawsuit and Statewide Investigation on E-Cigarettes
NC Department of Justice
,
November 16, 2021
North Carolina's Attorney General Josh Stein announced major steps against the e-cigarette industry due to rising concerns of the public health impact on youth.This includes "kid-friendly" flavors, targeted marketing, and poor age verification. AG Josh Stein is filing a lawsuit against JUUL founders, conducting a statewide investigation into PUFF Bar and other state retailers, and issuing a civil investigative demand to 20 major companies.
MDH teams up with 'the TikTok Doctor' to combat e-cigarette use among teens
KSTP-TV, Minneapolis
,
November 09, 2021
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is partnering with TikTok content creators to help combat teen e-cigarette use.
The MDH is partnering with Dr. Rose Marie Leslie, a family medicine physician with nearly 1 million followers on the popular social media app, TikTok. Dr. Leslie is informally known as "the TikTok Doctor," with the goal of reaching more teenagers who are affected by e-cigarette dependence. "TikTok has been an outlet for me to break through the noise and reach young people with health information that is quick and simple to digest, and also entertaining," Leslie said in a statement. "Highlighting resources like My Life, My Quit to help teens break free from nicotine dependence has been a natural fit."
E-cigarette users face 15% higher risk of stroke at a younger age than traditional smokers
Medical Xpress
,
November 08, 2021
New research finds that although stroke was more prevalent among traditional cigarette smokers, e-cigarette smokers had a 15% higher risk of having a stroke at a younger age.
To be presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2021, this research was done by examining the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2015 to 2018 to identify 79,825 adults with a history of stroke who used traditional cigarettes or e-cigarettes.
The study's co-lead author, Urvish K. Patel, M.D., M.P.H., urges the public on education and awareness of e-cigarette use, saying: "The public needs to know that the safety of e-cigarettes have not been proved to be safe and should not be considered as an alternative to traditional smoking especially among people with existing risk factors such as history of heart attack, high blood pressure and high cholesterol,".
“Tobacco-free nicotine” claims may increase the likelihood of e-cigarette use among young people
News Medical Life Sciences
,
November 02, 2021
Published in the journal of Tobacco Control, a study explores young adults' perception of brands that claim tobacco products are "nicotine-free".
This online study looked at 1,822 people aged 18 to 29 who either never used tobacco or who only had experimented with it to view depictions of Puff Bar e-cigarettes with either the claim that the product contains "tobacco-free nicotine," as it is marketed, or simply "contains nicotine."
England could prescribe e-cigarettes on National Health Service
CNN
,
October 29, 2021
England may be the first country in the world to prescribe e-cigarettes licensed as a medical product, with the goal of cutting smoking rates in the country.
England public health experts express concern and discussion on what this can mean, noting the risks of e-cigarette use and the potential for harm reduction.
Greater nicotine flux is associated with greater dependence among pod-based e-cigarette users, new research shows
Truth Initiative
,
October 29, 2021
Recent Truth Initiative research explores the impact of e-cigarette device and liquid characteristics on nicotine dependence.
The report, published in the journal of Addictive Behaviors, shows that greater nicotine flux, or the rate that an e-cigarette emits nicotine, is associated with higher e-cigarette dependence among users of pod-based e-cigarettes like JUUL. The study also found that younger age was significantly associated with e-cigarette dependence.
US vaping industry looks for answers as Postal Service ends deliveries
Freight Waves
,
October 25, 2021
The U.S. Postal Service’s ban on the shipping of all vaping products, which was mandated by Congress late last year, recently took effect. This imposes new challenges on the vaping supply chain and how they plan to get products to their customers, including the possibility of developing new shipping strategies.
Using e-cigarettes to prevent smoking relapse doesn't work well, study finds
CNN
,
October 19, 2021
A longitudinal study finds that e-cigarettes may not be as effective of a tool to prevent relapse to cigarettes.
Published in JAMA Network Open, the goal of the study was to assess whether recent former smokers who had switched to e-cigarettes or another tobacco product were less likely to relapse to cigarette smoking compared to those who remained tobacco-free. Results found that 50% of former smokers who quit tobacco "cold turkey" were off cigarettes at the second annual follow-up, but only 41.5% of those who used any other form of tobacco use, including e-cigarettes, had quit successfully.
Study author, John Pierce, concludes that "If switching to e-cigarettes was a viable way to quit cigarette smoking, then those who switched to e-cigarettes should have much lower relapse rates to cigarette smoking. We found no evidence of this,".
What nicotine is doing to the youth mental health crisis
CHRON
,
October 14, 2021
Many research studies discuss the association between smoking and vaping nicotine, including highlighting the research that nicotine can negatively impact your mental health - particularly worsening symptoms of depression and anxiety.
A recently published white paper from Truth Initiative titled “Colliding Crises: Youth Mental Health and Nicotine Use,” details how nicotine can worsen anxiety symptoms and amplify feelings of depression.
FDA Ignores Its Own Data Showing Threat to Kids by Allowing Highly Addictive Vuse to Remain on the Market
American Lung Association
,
October 12, 2021
The FDA recently announced that it authorized the marketing application for VUSE, a type of high-nicotine e-cigarette product. The American Lung Association’s President and CEO Harold Wimmer issued a statement in response to the FDA’s announcement:
“The American Lung Association is dismayed that FDA will permit three Vuse products to remain on the market in the U.S., including products that contain almost 5% nicotine. The harm these products cause to youth shows that they fail to meet the Tobacco Control Act’s public health standard.
'Safer does not mean safe': Wadena County area educators share concerns about youth vaping
Wadena Pioneer Journal
,
October 11, 2021
In Wadena County, Minnesota, public health professionals are working hard to raise awareness of the harmful and addictive nature of e-cigarette products.
Dan Huebsch, a youth worker with the Community Concern For Youth program of Wadena and Todd counties, and Laure Laughlin, Community Health Promotion Specialist with Wadena County Public Health, are sharing various educational information and resources specific to Minnesota, hoping to curb what looks like an upward trend in youth use of e-cigarettes.
Washington County mulls retailer ban for vapes, flavored nicotine
Portland Tribune
,
October 08, 2021
The Washington County Board of Commissioners is further considering banning sales of flavored tobacco and vaping products at retail locations that serve people under 21.
The board held a public hearing and second reading of the ordinance, which would prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products, synthetic nicotine, and the devices used to inhale them at any retail location where minors are allowed. Furthermore, it would prohibit retailers from discounting or using promotional prices for such products.
Johns Hopkins researchers thousands of unknown chemicals in electronic cigarettes
Johns Hopkins University
,
October 07, 2021
A new study, published in the journal Chemical Research in Toxicology, suggests that people who vape are using a product with an unknown scope of risks. This is the first study of its kind to apply to vaping liquids and aerosols an advanced fingerprinting technique used to identify chemicals in food and wastewater. Senior author Carsten Prasse, an assistant professor of environmental health and engineering at Johns Hopkins says that "More and more young people are using these e-cigarettes and they need to know what they're being exposed to."
California will impose new vaping tax to curb teen use, fund public health programs
Los Angeles Times
,
October 04, 2021
California Governor, Gavin Newsom, recently approved a 12.5% excise tax on electronic cigarettes.
Supported by health groups like the American Cancer Society, this new tax hopes to reduce the number of purchases by those younger than 21 now that vaping devices will be more expensive. Governor Newsom also set aside $20 million to support public health initiatives and awareness campaigns on the health risks of vaping.
Australian vaping law changes: e-cigarette users now need a doctor’s prescription
The Guardian
,
October 01, 2021
Backed by public health research, new laws in Australia are restricting how people obtain nicotine-containing vaping products, requiring prescriptions from a doctor.
Prof. Emily Banks, an epidemiologist with the Australian National University explores the negative health effects from e-cigarette use. Furthermore, she states that for most smokers, e-cigarettes are not effective tools to assist them to quit, and the majority of people who vape in Australia are not using the products as smoking cessation devices.
New data show teen vaping declined with school closures
The Hill
,
September 30, 2021
A new survey done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights new trends in e-cigarette use among youth, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors. Last year, nearly 20 percent of high school students and 5 percent of middle schoolers said they’d recently vaped. This year's data reports an estimated 11.3 percent of high school students and an estimated 2.8 percent of middle school students said they currently vape.
Experts are largely attributing this major drop due to COVID-19 protocols as this year's survey was conducted online, and last year's survey was conducted in person, inside the school's classroom.
Juul Is No Longer U.S. Teenagers' Preferred E-Cigarette. Puff Bar Seems to Have Taken Over
TIME
,
September 30, 2021
New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlights dramatic changes in teen e-cigarette preferences. More than half of students who vaped said they used disposable e-cigarettes, while about 29% said they used pod-based products. About 85% of youth vapers used products in flavors including fruit, candy and mint.
Study finds link between vaping, eating disorder risk for college students
KOMO News
,
September 30, 2021
A new study published in the journal Eating Behaviors links vaping or e-cigarette use to an increased risk of developing an eating disorder in college students. Addiction medicine specialist, Dr. Vania Rudolf, explains why people with eating disorders are particularly vulnerable to vaping, and what can come out of that.
Vape makers struggle to stay in business after FDA bans flavored e-cigs
POLITICO
,
September 22, 2021
Following the FDA's vaping and e-cigarette ban, small and medium sized e-cigarette businesses are struggling to stay open. This ban did not include denial of applications from some of the biggest in the game, like JUUL, and NJOY.
Smaller companies are now left with many questions on just what the financial and legal consequences may be for going against the FDA, and how strict enforcement will be.
Colliding Crises: Youth Mental Health and Nicotine Use
Truth Initiative
,
September 19, 2021
Recent research highlights the urgent need to address the connections between youth vaping and mental well-being.
Published research, alongside Truth Initiative survey data, reveals that better mental health outcomes may be linked to quitting nicotine-containing e-cigarettes. 90% of those surveyed who quit said they felt less stressed, anxious, or depressed. 47% of respondents who quit vaping reported that when they quit vaping they felt more in control.
F.D.A. Delays Decision on Juul’s E-Cigarettes but Orders Others Off the Market
The New York Times
,
September 09, 2021
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of thousands of vaping and electronic cigarette products but left out one of the industry’s leading companies – Juul.
FDA faced a court deadline to issue decisions on marketing applications from hundreds of vaping companies. Previously, they said they would prioritize the key players, like Juul and other industry giants, but none were included in their most recent announcement as much anticipated by public health leaders.
International research shows ‘strong evidence’ linking vaping to cigarette smoking
The Guardian
,
September 08, 2021
An international review of vaping research found that young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to take up tobacco cigarettes.
Funded by the World Health Organization, Australian researchers found that people under 20 who used vapes were more than three times as likely to have ever smoked tobacco cigarettes, and more than twice as likely to have smoked cigarettes in the previous month. This data was a compilation of vaping studies in countries across the world including the United States, United Kingdom, and Germany.
Lead author Serene Yoong, associate professor at Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, said the findings emphasized the need for youth prevention programs and better regulation of e-cigarette products.
FDA blocks sale of 55,000 flavored e-cigarette products
CNN
,
August 26, 2021
The U.S. Food Drug and Administration (FDA) banned the sale of over 55,000 flavored e-cigarette products.
This ban includes flavors made by three companies: JD Nova Group LLC, Great American Vapes, and Vapor Salon. While a step in the right direction, communities are concerned that this isn’t comprehensive enough, noting sales weren’t blocked for some of the top brands among youth, like JUUL.
Governor Pritzker signs legislation preventing underage electronic cigarette sales
WIFR Newsroom
,
August 24, 2021
Illinois officials recently signed legislation that will put more regulations on e-cigarette use.
The Illinois Governor signed Senate Bills 512 and 555 into law, further regulating youth use of electronic cigarettes. This new law prohibits certain marketing towards children and enforces stricter compliance checks for retailers.
Attorney General Kwame Raoul sums it up best when he says “Our work does not end today. This law is a significant step forward in what must be a comprehensive approach to protecting young people from the dangers of using e-cigarettes and other tobacco products.”
Attorney General Josh Stein Co-Leads Bipartisan Coalition Calling for FDA Action on E-Cigarettes
North Carolina Department of Justice
,
August 18, 2021
A new bipartisan coalition, led by North Carolina and Nebraska’s Attorney Generals calls on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take action on the youth vaping epidemic. The proposed action includes prohibiting non-tobacco flavors, limiting nicotine amount, and restricting marketing.
North Carolina Attorney General, Josh Stein, says this as a step toward the right direction, but not all that needs to be done: “…this problem is larger than any one company, and we need the FDA to step up and rein in the practices of the e-cigarette industry that hook our youth.”
A longitudinal analysis of e-cigarette use and cigar, little cigar or cigarillo initiation among youth and youth adults
Truth Initiative
,
July 29, 2021
A recent study found that youth who used e-cigarettes were more likely to use cigars, little cigars, and cigarillos.
The research study used a sample drawn from the Truth Longitudinal Cohort, and looked at the association between youth’s use of e-cigarettes and initiation of cigar use. The study found that the odds of using cigars was more than three times greater in youth and young adults who had ever used JUUL or other e-cigarettes compared to those who never used e-cigarettes.
TikTok and Vaping
Medpage Today
,
July 26, 2021
What role does TikTok play in the vaping epidemic? A recent study found that adolescents using TikTok may be influenced in their perceptions of e-cigarette use. Positively framed e-cigarette and vaping-related postings that are posted on TikTok without age restrictions were viewed many times. Researchers were concerned that these popular videos may create social norms around vaping and increase its acceptance.
10 historically and predominantly Black institutions pledge to go tobacco/vape-free with Truth Initiative
Truth Initiative
,
February 18, 2021
In February 2021, eight historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) and two predominantly Black institutions were awarded grants from Truth Initiative to combat health disparities related to tobacco and vape use.
With the funding, these institutions will aim to adopt a 100% tobacco/vape-free campus policy. This would add 31,000 students to the nearly 2 million who have been impacted through Truth Initiative’s Tobacco/Vape-Free College Program.
Gut Inflammation Triggered by E-Cigarettes
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News
,
January 08, 2021
New research from scientists at UC San Diego School of Medicine links gut health to e-cigarette use.
They found that long-term use of nicotine-free e-cigarettes can lead to what they call a “leaky gut”. A leaky gut is where microbes and other molecules come out of the intestines, resulting in chronic inflammation. This can contribute to various health outcomes including inflammatory bowel disease, dementia, and certain cancers.
Only 3% of adult smokers used JUUL to quit in past year
The Truth Initiative
,
September 25, 2020
Recently published in Tobacco Control, a study by the Truth Initiative found that only a small percentage of adult smokers used JUUL in their attempts to quit smoking, undermining JUUL's claim that its marketing targets the cessation efforts for adult smokers. The study found that among those who had tried to quit in the last four years, 2.2% used JUUL alone, 10.3% used Nicotine Replacement Therapy (such as gum or patches) alone, 6.9% used other e-cigarettes, and 1.4% used JUUL and another method.
Need another reason not to vape? Your oral health is at risk
American Heart Association
,
August 26, 2020
Dentists and oral health researchers warn that while the long-term impacts of vaping are still unclear, they have observed changes in oral health among people who vape. Notably, they are observing more cavities and periodontal disease, typically seen in older adults, in young people who vape.
Tobacco Product Use Among High School Students — Youth Risk Behavior Survey, United States, 2019
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
,
August 21, 2020
Using data from the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, the CDC reported that current youth vaping use was 32.7%. Among current e-cigarette users aged ≤17 years, most commonly reported borrowing them from someone else. And while cigarette, cigar, and smokeless tobacco use among high schoolers has decreased, there was a noted increase in those using e-ciagrettes.
Use of Cigarettes and E-Cigarettes/Vaping Among Transgender People: Results From the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey
American Journal of Preventative Medicine
,
August 19, 2020
Using data from the 2015 National Transgender Survey, researchers found that the odds of cigarette, e-cigarette, and dual-use among transgender individuals increased with their experiences of discrimination, perception of visual non-conformity, and disclosure of transgender identity to their social circles.
Association Between Youth Smoking, Electronic Cigarette Use, and Coronavirus Disease 2019
Journal of Adolescent Health
,
August 11, 2020
Using an online national survey of adolescents in the US, researchers analyzed the relationship between cigarette and e-cigarette use and COVID-19 symptoms, testing, and diagnosis. This recent study found that the likelihood of COVID-19 diagnosis was highest among dual users of cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
Vaping law passes: Advertising banned, flavours restricted and illegal for under 18s
New Zealand Herald
,
August 06, 2020
The Parliament in New Zealand passed The Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Vaping Amendment Bill which takes effect in November. Among its reach, the law will ban vaping sales to those under the age of 18, prohibit advertising, limit flavors, ban vaping in cars with children, and give the Ministry of Health more power to respond quickly to future regulatory needs.
‘Everybody I Know And Hang Out With Vapes’: More Colorado Teens See The Danger In Vaping, But 1 In 4 Still Do It
Colorado Public Radio
,
August 04, 2020
Rates of vaping among youth in Colorado are among some of the highest in the U.S. While many understand there are risks to vaping, some continue to vape. Youth in Colorado are also increasingly using vapes for marijuana.
Up in Smoke: Exploring the Relationship between Bullying Victimization and E-Cigarette Use in Sexual Minority Youths
Substance Use and Misuse
,
July 28, 2020
Researchers analyzed the relationship between experiences of bullying (in school and cyberbullying) and e-cigarette use for youth who identify as sexual minorities. They found that together, experiences of bullying in school and online were associated with e-cigarette use.
Minnesota Sees Return of Vaping-Related Lung Injuries
U.S. News & World Report
,
July 24, 2020
Minnesota health officials report a potential resurgence of EVALI amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. They note that diagnosis was difficult because patients with EVALI presented with similar symptoms of COVID-19.
FDA calls for removal of fruity, disposable e-cigarettes
Associated Press
,
July 20, 2020
The US Food and Drug Administration has told the company Cool Clouds Distribution, makers of Puff Bar, to remove their devices from the US market. A notice on Puff Bar's website states that online sales and distribution have ceased. Warning letters were also distributed to nine other companies whose products illegally appeal to children.
State Sues JUUL, Charges Vaping Company Targeted Hawaii Minors
Hawaii Public Radio
,
July 01, 2020
Hawai'i is the latest state to sue JUUL for marketing its products to minors thus violating its Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices Law. Vaping rates among middle and high school students in Hawai'i were some of the highest in the country in 2017.
E-cigarette Marketing Regulations and Youth Vaping: Cross-Sectional Surveys, 2017–2019
Pediatrics
,
July 01, 2020
Using varying marketing policies in Canadian provinces, researchers tested the association between exposure to vaping marketing and vaping prevalence as well as marketing policy strength. They found evidence to support more stringent marketing policies as a strategy to curb youth vaping prevalence.
Notes from the Field: E-cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use–Associated Lung Injury Cases During the COVID-19 Response — California, 2020
CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)
,
June 26, 2020
Healthcare providers report EVALI cases in patients in California in April. They updated clinical guidelines in May in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Drug Education and Cessation Programs Help Teens Avoid or Quit Vaping
Rural Monitor
,
June 03, 2020
Throughout the country, health educators are integrating student input, partnering with peer student educators, engaging with families, and advocating for policy change in their efforts to prevent vaping and help teens quit vaping. Barriers to healthcare in rural areas make accessing specialized youth tobacco cessation especially tricky. These educators leverage school as an intervention location and rely on prevention education and telephonic quitlines to reach their students.
Lawmakers Say Puff Bar Used Pandemic to Market to Teens
New York Times
,
June 02, 2020
Federal lawmakers cite youth-targeted marketing in a request to the Food and Drug Administration to ban Puff Bar products. The marketing is especially important as it seems to encourage youth to use Puff Bar without their parents noticing while staying at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. Puff Bar sales have been on the rise, with some calling it the next JUUL, especially since their products bypass the federal vape flavor ban.
Dangerous loopholes: Young e-cigarette users report swapping products as vaping policies change
Truth Initiative
,
June 02, 2020
Since the ban on fruit and mint flavored e-liquids, youth who vape have shifted from products like JUUL to products like Puff Bar which continue to offer flavored products as a result of policy loopholes.
Youth and Young Adult Use of Pod-Based Electronic Cigarettes From 2015 to 2019: A Systematic Review
JAMA Pediatrics
,
June 01, 2020
Researchers conducted a systematic review to find out what factors were associated with the use of pod-based e-cigarettes, particularly for youth and young adults. Their findings indicated that pod-based e-cigarettes carry greater potential for nicotine dependence. Youth and young adult use are highly influenced by social acceptability, product design, and marketing which the authors indicate as potential intervention targets to curb use in this population.
In World’s Happiest Nation, Teens Don’t Want to Vape Anymore
Bloomberg
,
May 31, 2020
Finland reports that its efforts to curb youth vaping is showing promise as the proportion of high school students who vape drops to under 1%. Strategies used include taxation, flavor bans, and mandatory health education.
Adverse Effects of Electronic Cigarettes on the Disease-Naive Oral Microbiome
Science Advances
,
May 27, 2020
Researchers used oral swabs of vapers, cigarette smokers, and non-users to analyze the impact of vaping on the oral cavity. Their findings that the oral damage of e-cigarette use is significant but not less than the damage of cigarette use challenges the harm reduction claims of e-cigarettes as a cessation tool.
World No-Tobacco Day Awards recognizes advancements in Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico and Venezuela
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) | World Health Organization (WHO)
,
May 22, 2020
Institutions and individuals in Bolivia, Brazil, Mexico, and Venezuela were recognized this year for their work on tobacco control. Mexico, specifically, took economic and trade action to curb youth vaping.
Evaluating the actual and perceived effectiveness of E-cigarette prevention advertisements among adolescents
Addictive Behaviors
,
May 19, 2020
This article is one of the first to test the effectiveness of the FDA's The Real Cost campaign ads. Researchers found that the campaign's ads scored highly on scales of message perception and effect perception. They led adolescents to have higher beliefs about the harms of vaping, more negative attitudes toward vaping, and lower intentions to vape compared to control videos. Several of the authors are involved in Vaping Prevention Resource.
No Menthol Sunday Expands Message with Virtual Services
The Birmingham Times
,
May 14, 2020
Churches across Alabama and the nation participated in No Menthol Sunday on May 17, 2020. The annual observance, led by the National African American Tobacco Prevention Network (NAATPN), engages faith leaders to strive for better health outcomes for their African American communities and congregations. While the campaign typically targets the role of menthol flavoring in cigarette marketing, this year, there is a particular focus on youth vaping and menthol flavoring.
PuffPacket: A Platform for Unobtrusively Tracking the Fine-grained Consumption Patterns of E-cigarette Users
Proceedings of the 2020 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems
,
April 30, 2020
PuffPacket is a vaping measurement tool developed by a team of researchers at Cornell University. PuffPacket can be physically attached to any vaping device and is intended to track vaping intensity, frequency, and inhalation duration. When linked to a smartphone, it can also track contextual triggers.
FDA Warns Manufacturers and Retailers to Remove Certain E-cigarette Products Targeted to Youth from the Market
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
,
April 27, 2020
The FDA issued warnings to retailers and manufacturers of electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) products that were targeted to youth. These products include those which look like children's toys and smartwatches and clothing with hidden pockets meant to conceal an e-cigarette. They also issued warnings to e-liquid producers that used youth-targeted marketing including candy-like packaging.
Do JUUL and e-cigarette flavours change risk perceptions of adolescents? Evidence from a national survey
Tobacco Control
,
April 16, 2020
Using a national survey of high school students who had ever heard of JUUL or e-ciagrettes, researchers found that youth risk perception of e-cigarette use was influenced by e-cigarette flavors.
The Scary Relationship Between Vaping And Coronavirus
HuffPost
,
April 13, 2020
Medical professionals urge vapers that the time to quit is now. The combination of COVID-19 virus transmission and the health effects of vaping put those who vape and those around them at increased risk of contracting and spreading the virus. Further, those who vape and are infected with COVID-19 may have a harder time recovering from the virus.
Smokers and Vapers May Be at Greater Risk for Covid-19
New York Times
,
April 09, 2020
While vaping may be a stress-reducing behavior for some, doctors warn that vaping (use of e-cigarettes) may contribute to the spread of COVID-19 virus. They say that e-cigarette use itself and the physical health impacts of vaping, including lung damage, weakened immune system, and increased ACE-2 receptor expression, may put an individual at increased risk of contracting the virus. Other tobacco use may also contribute to virus spread.
e-Cigarette Use Among Young Adult Cancer Survivors Relative to the US Population
JAMA Oncology
,
April 09, 2020
In this research letter, the authors show that young adult cancer survivors are more likely to vape than their peers who have not previously had cancer. They explain the implications of such a finding in their letter.
Correlates of Youth Vaping Flavor Preferences
Preventative Medicine Reports
,
April 08, 2020
This peer-reviewed analysis shows an association between flavor and electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) use among youth aged 13-18. Moreover, its findings indicate that flavors are a drivers for experimentation with ENDS and flavor preferences vary by sex, age, and race/ethnicity. The authors provide recommendations relevant to vaping prevention messaging and policy.
Vitamin E Acetate in Bronchoalveolar-Lavage Fluid Associated with EVALI
New England Journal of Medicine
,
February 20, 2020
Scientific background on vitamin E acetate which is associated with EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury).
Surge in youth vaping prompting cities, state to consider flavored tobacco bans
The San Diego Union Tribune
,
February 19, 2020
An update as cities consider vaping bans. Cities, including San Diego, are considering banning the sale of flavored tobacco and vaping liquids. Supporters hope this will prevent youth nicotine use; critics say it will damage small businesses and that it won’t work to prevent youth vaping.
Is vaping a source for good or for evil? Both.
The Washington Post
,
February 19, 2020
A report on Juul, government response, and the pros and cons of vaping. New youth vaping prevention regulations in some states are causing small vape shops to switch to selling different types of products or close down. The goal is to protect youth by getting flavored products off the market. However, critics say that teens will still be able to access vapes and that this regulation will impact customers coming into stores, who are already 21+ and may be using vapes to quit smoking.
Parents: Teens Are Still Vaping, Despite Flavor Ban. Here's What They're Using
NPR
,
February 07, 2020
An update on vaping use among teens. Disposable vapes are a new popular vape product; the industry has been able to get new products on the market, where teens can access them, even with current regulations. Teens often look for the sweet flavors that vapes provide. Parents can make sure they understand the products, gently open conversations about vaping with teens, and make use of all resources available to them.
Young people have moved on to a new kind of vape not covered by the flavor ban: disposables
MarketWatch
,
February 07, 2020
A perspective on the FDA’s vaping policy. The US government has started to restrict e-cigs to curb underage vaping. However, many youth have already moved to new types of products: flavored disposable versions which circumvent the new policy.
Portage students take on vaping, bullying at youth summit
Record Courier
,
February 05, 2020
A report on a youth summit where young people discussed the problems and solutions they face. One hundred Portage County (Ohio) high school students discussed vaping, among other things, during a Youth Leadership Summit. The students developed data-driven plans for their schools to implement and protect youth.
Who Thought Sucking on a Battery Was a Good Idea? Vaping is a health crisis that’s only just begun.
New York Magazine
,
February 04, 2020
A recap of the EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury) outbreak of 2019. Was it a result of vitamin E acetate, an additive often mixed with THC? Or could EVALI be only the first of many repercussions of vaping? A look into a teen-run drug ring distributing illegal THC vape cartridges in local high schools, the black market behind vaping, and the role Big Tobacco is playing across virtually all top e-cigarette brands.
Teens Find a Big Loophole in the New Flavored Vaping Ban
The New York Times
,
January 31, 2020
Perspectives on the FDA’s vaping policy and reports of experiences from teens who vape. An FDA policy loophole meant to curb teen vaping by targeting vape flavors allows teens to continue to access vapes through disposable devices. Teens have switched from reusable vapes to these disposable ones, to continue accessing vape flavors. The FDA says it will act if they see products targeted to children. Those advocating against the policy are concerned that the FDA has a lag in understanding the issue.
Update: Characteristics of a Nationwide Outbreak of E-cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use–Associated Lung Injury — United States, August 2019–January 2020
CDC
,
January 17, 2020
An update from the CDC in on the Fall 2019 EVALI outbreak. Nationwide, 82% of patients hospitalized with EVALI reported use of reported tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing product use. After case numbers peaked the week of September 19, 2019, weekly reported cases have declined.
A Teen With Cough: Could This Be Vaping Related?
MedScape
,
December 13, 2019
A hypothetical case presentation that illustrates key EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury) evaluation and healthcare treatment scenarios. Would you know what to do?
How Juul hooked a generation on nicotine
New York Times
,
November 23, 2019
A deep dive into Juul’s marketing tactics that actively targeted millennials and ignored evidence that teenagers were illegally using its products.
Reactions to electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) prevention messages: results from qualitative research used to inform FDA’s first youth ENDS prevention campaign
Tobacco Control
,
September 10, 2019
In response to growing increased vaping among youth, large-scale health communications campaign messages were evaluated using focus group discussions with youth. Researchers found that addiction-only messages resonated less with youth and that messages with the negative consequences of vaping and strong health effects resonated more with this group.
Teen Vaping Linked to More Health Risks
Yale Medicine
,
September 13, 2018
A look into the 2019 EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping-associated lung injury) outbreak, as well as the potential risks of vaping that, surfaced prior. Various doctors and researchers weigh in on how to talk to your kids about vaping. Concerns about research showing the effects of nicotine on the developing adolescent brain discussed as well as the increased likelihood of adolescents who vape becoming cigarette smokers in the future.