Despite a recent crackdown on flavored e-cigarettes and vape pens, teens have reportedly found a loophole in the Food and Drug Administration’s ban.

Teens Find a Way Around FDA’s Vape Flavor Ban

On Jan. 2, the FDA announced that the administration would be banning flavors of e-cigarettes and vape pens popular among teens, including fruit, mint, and dessert. The ban was in response to reported e-cig health risks and meant to deter teens and minors from illegally using e-cigarettes.

According to one study, around two-thirds of teens may believe they are only smoking flavored vapor, rather than inhaling nicotine. By banning teen-friendly flavors like cool mint, banana, and creme brulee, the FDA’s goal was to reduce the attractiveness of e-cigarettes to teens.

However, teens and minors have found a way around this ban. Under the FDA ban, some types of e-cigarettes are excluded from the flavor regulations.

In addition to teens, many adults also enjoy fruit and dessert flavored vape products. In order to allow these consumers to continue purchasing their desired vape products, the ban does not include devices that are meant to be disposable. While many vape pens consist of a rechargeable e-cigarette and replaceable vape pods, some vape pens are disposable and are meant to be thrown away once the internal cartridge has been emptied. These devices are not governed by the recent flavor bans and create a loophole for youth purchases.

Prior to the ban, a brand of vape pen called Juul was popular among teens due to the pen’s discreet size and appearance, and due to its youth-geared advertising. However, according to several teens and teachers, Puff Bar is the new e-cigarette of choice for minors looking for flavored nicotine. Puff Bar sells disposable e-cigarettes in flavors such as banana ice and sour apple. However, some pre-filled, disposable e-cigarettes have an even higher level of nicotine than e-cigarettes that use replaceable pods, like Juul.

According to one teacher who spoke to The New York Times, “Students were telling me that everybody had gone to Puff Bars, which are disposable. The one we confiscated here this week is Banana Ice. Students are not using Juuls anymore because no one wants menthol or tobacco.”

Vape Pen and E-Cig Health Risks

Over the past year, reports of e-cig health risks including vape-related lung illnesses have been on the rise. At least 60 people in the U.S. have died due to these illnesses, with several thousand confirmed cases. Symptoms of vape-related lung illnesses may include a cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, nausea, or vomiting.

In addition to lung illnesses, other e-cig health risks may include an increased risk of nicotine poisoning, seizures, and heart problems. As e-cigarettes make it difficult to determine how much nicotine is being consumed, it may be easier for teens and inexperienced smokers to accidentally consume too much nicotine and experience an overdose. Symptoms of a nicotine overdose may include nausea, vomiting, stomach ache, tremors, anxiety, increased heart rate, elevated blood pressure, shallow breathing, pale skin, seizures, or respiratory failure.

If you or a loved one has experienced seizures or other negative health side effects due to the use of e-cigarettes, you may be able to hire a qualified attorney to review your case and represent you in a class action lawsuit against the manufacturers of these devices.

Join a Free JUUL E-Cigarette Class Action Lawsuit Investigation

If you or your child suffered seizures after vaping with a JUUL e-cigarette, you may benefit from participating in a free JUUL class action lawsuit investigation.

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