Government and industry crack down on the teen vaping epidemic

As of early September, the e-cigarette industry has come under fire as vaping-related diseases have begun to increase. According to CNBC, teen vaping rates have soared, leading to the outbreak of a vaping-related lung disease that has killed at least eight people in the recent weeks. Now that vapes are truly beginning to produce legitimate consequences, both President Trump and e-cigarette manufacturers has felt their duty to intervene, outputting new policies restricting the spread of vapes. 

“I think that, at this point, it’s necessary for the federal government to get involved in this health crisis. Local action simply isn’t enough anymore,” Richard Montgomery junior Chris Ma said. 

Deemed an “epidemic”, many e-cigarette manufacturers are leaving the industry. According to Fox News, the Chief Operating Officer of Juul has resigned while facing many lawsuits that claim that the company has targeted teenagers with the specially flavored nicotine products. 

President Trump himself has also put out strong recommendations regarding anti-vape legislation. According to an announcement by Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar in CNN, “By May 20, e-cigarette companies making tobacco-flavored products would have the chance to file for approval by the FDA.” This additional screening would ensure the lowest possible harm of these products. “At that time, flavored-product manufacturers would also have the opportunity to file, but their products would be off the market until approved.”

First Lady Melania Trump has made the vaping addiction among teens the centerpiece of her “Be Best” platform which focuses largely on children’s health and combating addiction. However, many students don’t believe that these presidential policies will be effective at controlling the addiction. 

Wootton junior Daniel Hwang said, “The wills of teenagers to vape won’t really change based on the degree of involvement by the federal government, it really has to come from their inner conscious.” 

However, students also believe ways to lower vaping rates do exist. “Unfortunately, there’s a lot of positive stigma surrounding the use of e-cigarettes so this would have to come from increased awareness and education about the harms of vaping,” Hwang said.

Aside from federal government, Walmart is the first large business to take a stand in the e-cigarette issue, ending vape sales in September 2019. The official ban will come after Walmart sells out of their current inventory. Earlier this year, Walmart had also raised the age limit for buying tobacco to 21, also in response to the growing e-cigarette illnesses. 

“[The Walmart ban] definitely awakens the American population to recognize the fatal harms of vaping,” Hwang said. 

However, many people believe that the ban on e-cigarettes will not have the intended effect of lowering usage. In an article by NPR, Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commissioner Shaleen Title said, “This is a terrible decision. Purposely pushing people into the illicit market — precisely where the dangerous products are — goes against every principle of public health and harm reduction.”

Without convenient legal means to obtain e-cigarettes, it is believed that crime will only rise. “It is dangerous, short-sighted, and undermines the benefits of legal regulation,” Title said.

Largely in response to the rising number of deaths and illnesses in America due to vaping-related cases, anti-vaping sentiments have begun to spread. America has yet to see if the federal government policies and vape sale bans have any effect on the e-cigarette “epidemic”.

Article by Faith Cheung of Richard Montgomery High School

Graphic by Nicole Fang of Richard Montgomery High School