E cigarette health concerns have previously been masked by the companies behind them that have sought to portray them as tools to effectively quit traditional combustible tobacco products.

In September 2019, JUUL, the largest of the e-cigarette vaping manufacturers, let the public know that they intended to stop their advertising campaigns on broadcast, online, and print mediums as soon as possible.

The announcement, as indicated in a CNBC article appearing at that time, came on the heels of warnings by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration against JUUL. JUUL had allegedly been minimizing e cigarette health concerns by claiming its products were safer than regular cigarettes.

In the light of recent deaths and mysterious lung illnesses affecting vapers across many states in the union, this unfounded generalization has seriously come under scrutiny. E cigarette health concerns, in fact, are running so high at present, that countries are reportedly temporarily outlawing them and stores are pulling JUUL pods off their shelves.

The FDA reportedly wanted to level fines against the company because JUUL was not only claiming the superior safety of its products over combustible cigarettes but were insinuating their products were good step-down devices if one wanted to quit altogether. Regulations stipulate that the federal agency has the right to evaluate smoking cessation products, according to CNBC.

The Data Reveals an Alarming Trend

According to Minnpost, the Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey indicated in 2014 that 65 percent of vaping product users were current or former smokers of combustibles. Convinced by the abundant advertising that vaping might help a cigarette smoker quit through a type of weaning process, many transferred or attempted to transfer to this medium of nicotine intake five or more years ago, notes the report.

The same survey echoes what has become apparent throughout the country. In the intervening years, this percentage has dropped to 37 percent–a decline of almost half. While this has been happening, the greatest growth in the use of vaping products has been seen among youth under 18 years old.

Former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb has claimed that a number of actions are being taken to severely curb what he sees as a trend of epidemic proportions—a steep incline of new nicotine users that have started in childhood replacing what was supposed to be a tobacco cessation method.

Gottlieb blames marketing tools aimed at youth and pledges to target those that engage in this practice in his statement released on Sept.11, 2018 regarding new steps to address e cigarette use. He blames “misleadingly labeled or advertised e-liquids resembling kid-friendly foods like juice boxes, candy and cookies”. Gottlieb claims his intent of partnering with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to target vaping product manufacturers, distributors, and retailers who are gearing their products to and selling to minors.

An alarming aspect of the new youth epidemic, according to Minnpost, is that vaping was portrayed as a healthier alternative, but in actuality, the nicotine is proportionately higher in pods than in regular cigarettes when compared. This led to rapid addiction among young people who believed they were engaging in a “safe” activity.

Nicotine is highly addictive and not a neutral in any respect when it comes to the effects it has on a developing brain, FDA Commissioner Gottlieb underscores in his comments.

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This article is not legal advice. It is presented
for informational purposes only.