Tobacco use at any age is unsafe, as it is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death among adults in the U.S. Youth use of tobacco is especially dangerous because nearly all tobacco use begins during youth and young adulthood. It is therefore disturbing that the latest data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey finds that 1 in 9 middle and high school students currently use tobacco products—more than 3 million in total—and that e-cigarettes are the most popular product overall for the ninth year in a row. Among those reporting tobacco use, more than 18 percent suffered from severe psychological distress and 27 percent had low academic achievement. Although cigarette smoking among U.S. youths has been steadily declining during the past 2 decades, the introduction of e-cigarettes has led to a vaping epidemic among this age group, mainly due to the sale of flavored vaping products that target youth. In response to the youth vaping crisis, in 2020 the FDA declared a nationwide ban on many flavored e-cigarette products. But this only applies to specific types of devices, such as cartridges or pre-filled pods, allowing teens to access other devices including nicotine vapes with disposable pods sold under the brand Puff Bars. As such, more stringent bans have been enacted on the state level. Last week, for example, Californians overwhelmingly voted to uphold a law banning all flavored tobacco products in the state, making it the largest state so far to prohibit such products after Rhode Island, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. We need the FDA to show leadership in the fight against youth vaping, with a ban on all flavored devices, broader education programs, better oversight of marketing, and a crackdown on underage access to these products.
Street Address
City, State, Zip
Phone Number
Rosenthal Center for AddictIon Studies