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Teen vape addiction is an alarming trend among today’s youth according to a recent article, and it’s not just harming kids’ health, it’s also violating federal law.
The fruity smell and taste of a vape cigarette is pretty much as far from that of a traditional cigarette as you can get, but vapes can be every bit as dangerous.
Companies market these products as a whimsical and harmless enjoyment that offer a safe alternative to other nicotine products. They often resemble something you’d find at a local candy store but they’re anything but a treat.
Many contain high levels of nicotine and other chemical adulterants that put smokers’ health at risk and leave them susceptible to serious addiction. And because of their sweet flavors, vibrant colors, and clever marketing, it’s kids and teens who are most attracted to these products–and who are facing potentially devastating consequences as a result.
Because of this, 27 United States Attorneys General are speaking in unison against the products and in support of the federal laws that prohibit the importing of these products. They point to research showing that China, in particular, makes billions every year from contraband shipments of illegal vapes disguised as consumer products.
Law enforcement agencies across the US are asking for the authority to seize illegal vape shipments. They underscore the reality that these illegal products are often shipped and hidden in innocuous packaging that resembles other items, like flashlights, to evade law enforcement.
And this is how they end up in the hands of children and teenagers despite the federal ban. One Maryland mom, Donna Bartlett, describes her teenage son’s battle with vape addiction. She describes the profound breathing issues that hindered her son’s ability to participate in the sports he loved.
“It got to the point where my son couldn’t even get through halftime and have (sic) to get pulled off the field because he couldn’t breathe,” Bartlett recalls.
But despite the dangers experts are not optimistic that a solution is as yet in sight. The reason? Teen vape addiction is driven by a multi-billion dollar, multinational industry.
In a study conducted last year by the major tobacco company Altria, 2,000 discarded vapes were collected and found to have originated from China. Simply put, the importing of illegal vapes into the US is a lucrative business for Chinese organized crime syndicates.
And the complete disregard of import bans isn’t just happening in China. It’s also front and center stateside. At the Alternative Products Expo in Miami this year, these products were openly displayed and sold to consumers, despite the federal ban.
Many are asking how this is possible. Some are even accusing the FDA of massive failures in their obligation to protect American consumers in general and children in particular.
Senators are demanding answers from the FDA for alleged inaction and a lack of transparency. Yet, it seems these questions have fallen on deaf ears. According to reports, the FDA has yet to provide any answers or to take action to address the concerns of lawmakers, healthcare providers and worried parents like Donna Bartlett.
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