FDA Works to Reverse Vaping Trend Among Teens

(Summer 2018) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working to cut back on the popularity of teen vaping (inhaling and exhaling the vapor of e-cigarettes). The act is also called JUULing and originates from the JUUL brand product that resembles a thumb drive and charges like a cell phone.

The most recent Monitoring the Future (MTF) study reveals that close to 33% of high school seniors admit to vaping in the past year. With fruit or mint flavors available as well as other options spiked with nicotine or THC (the active ingredient in marijuana). Vaping has eclipsed regular cigarette use among teens.

In response to the trend, the FDA launched a covert initiative to investigate gas stations, online retailers and others selling JUULs. The federal organization also forced JUUL Labs to hand over its sales and research information to uncover whether the company is deliberately aiming advertising toward teens, although JUUL Labs denies it is attempting to target youths.

Vaping is commonly positioned as being less dangerous than cigarette use, but this is not the case. Some teens incorrectly believe that, since e-cigarettes are tobacco-free, they are not harmful. To the contrary, however, vaped liquids can contain stronger amounts of hazardous chemicals than cigarettes, particularly when the solution includes THC or nicotine. This may intensify intoxication and introduce potentially carcinogenic substances into the lungs and irritate a user’s mouth. Vaping may also lead to a higher rate of teen cigarette smoking.

Parents should warn teens of vaping’s long-term dangers, which include addiction. One key to stopping the behavior is to find out why vaping appeals to a teen and find a new, healthier activity to take its place.

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