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Britain Passes Landmark Bill to Phase Out Cigarette Sales for Future Generations

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Britain is moving toward a future in which today’s children may never legally purchase cigarettes, after lawmakers backed sweeping new anti-smoking measures that combine a phased tobacco ban with tighter oversight of vaping products. The legislation, approved by Parliament on Tuesday, is expected to become law following the formal step of royal assent by King Charles III.

At the center of the legislation is a generational policy shift. The legal age for buying tobacco will increase by one year, every year, starting with anyone born on or after January 1, 2009. Over time, that rolling threshold effectively creates a permanent prohibition for those age groups, meaning they will never reach a legal age to buy cigarettes.

In practice, the policy targets anyone currently 17 or younger and applies across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with the aim of ensuring they never take up smoking at any point in their lives.

The measures are part of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which is expected to receive royal assent next week, formalizing one of the most ambitious public health efforts in the country’s history.

First proposed in 2024, the bill places Britain among a small group of countries experimenting with so-called “generational” smoking bans, following similar efforts in places like New Zealand and the Maldives, though such policies have faced political pushback and reversals elsewhere.

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Officials argue the long-term payoff could be substantial. Smoking remains one of the leading causes of preventable death in England, linked to roughly 64,000 deaths and 400,000 hospital admissions each year. The financial burden is also significant, costing the National Health Service about 3 billion pounds annually.

Across the wider economy, smoking is estimated to cost tens of billions of pounds each year and is linked to deepening inequality, with government data suggesting around 500,000 households are pushed into poverty in part due to tobacco spending.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting framed the legislation as a turning point.

“Children in the UK will be part of the first smoke-free generation, protected from a lifetime of addiction and harm. Prevention is better than cure – this reform will save lives, ease pressure on the NHS, and build a healthier Britain.”

Alongside the phased tobacco ban, the bill also expands restrictions on vaping and nicotine products, reflecting growing concern about their popularity among young people. The legislation reinforces existing rules by prohibiting sales of vaping products to those under 18 and introducing stricter limits on advertising, retail displays, giveaways, and price promotions.

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These steps build on earlier action taken last year, when the government banned single-use or disposable vapes amid rising worries about youth uptake and environmental waste. Under the new framework, ministers will also gain authority to regulate product details such as flavors and packaging through secondary legislation intended to curb the appeal of nicotine products to younger consumers.

Officials have described tobacco as one of the “main underlying drivers of ill-health,” underscoring the broader goal of reducing long-term strain on the country’s publicly funded healthcare system.

Vaping, once promoted as a harm-reduction alternative to smoking, has become a more complicated policy issue. According to the health charity Action on Smoking and Health, about 10% of adults in Great Britain, roughly 5.5 million people, currently use e-cigarettes. This figure has remained largely steady since 2024, suggesting growth may be leveling off.

Usage patterns further complicate the picture. About half of adult vapers are former smokers, while around 40% continue to smoke alongside vaping, indicating that dual use remains common.

At the same time, surveys suggest many smokers are ambivalent about their habit, with roughly three-quarters saying they wish they had never started and a majority expressing a desire to quit—findings cited by health officials to support the argument that “addiction is not a choice.”

Taken together, the bill’s architects say the combined approach of phasing out tobacco access for future generations while tightening control over vaping aims to reduce nicotine addiction at its source and lessen long-term strain on the healthcare system.

nicotine

Rise of Zyn: USC Study Finds Teens Turning to Nicotine Pouches

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Teenagers are shifting away from vaping and increasingly turning to nicotine pouches, especially from brands like Zyn. Their use among U.S. high school students nearly doubled from 2023 to 2024, a recent study led by researchers at USC’s Keck School of Medicine revealed.

The findings, published in JAMA Network Open, are based on data from a national survey involving over 10,000 tenth and twelfth graders.

Nicotine pouches—small sachets containing nicotine that users tuck between their gums and lips—have rapidly increased in popularity, particularly due to aggressive social media promotion by “Zynfluencers,” who portray pouch use as enhancing confidence, masculinity, and mental clarity.

While nicotine pouch use climbed from 3.0% of teens in 2023 to 5.4% in 2024, vaping saw a slight decline over the same period. E-cigarette use dropped from 20% to 17.6%, yet dual usage—teens who reported using both e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches—increased from 2.1% to 3.6%. Additionally, more students reported lifetime and recent use of nicotine pouches.

The trend has raised significant public health concerns, echoing earlier apprehensions surrounding other tobacco products. Groups, including the American Heart Association and the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, have asked for nicotine pouch legislation.

“This growing public health issue needs more attention. Like flavored e-cigarettes when they first emerged, use of this new oral nicotine product is becoming more widespread, particularly among adolescents,” said study lead author Dae-Hee Han, a postdoctoral researcher in population and public health sciences at USC’s Keck School of Medicine.

The demographic patterns for nicotine pouch users mirrored traditional smokeless tobacco users, with higher rates among males, non-Hispanic white teens, and those living in rural areas. According to Han, these distinctions underscore the need for tailored preventive approaches distinct from those used for vaping.

“We’re finding that the risk profile differs quite a bit between nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes, which means we need prevention approaches that are targeted for each.”

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Health implications of long-term nicotine pouch use remain unclear, though early reports indicate potential risks like addiction, mouth sores, and gum irritation. Moreover, prior studies have demonstrated that adolescent nicotine exposure can negatively impact brain development, particularly affecting learning, memory, and attention capabilities.

“Parents, teachers, and pediatricians should be aware that teen nicotine pouch use is increasing across the nation,” emphasized Adam M. Leventhal, executive director of the USC Institute for Addiction Science and a study co-author.

Leventhal told Business Insider he had anticipated a rise in the popularity of nicotine pouches, especially with the rapid increase in demand for Zyn products and frequent shortages. Still, the scale and speed of this uptick surprised him.

On platforms like TikTok, “Zyn” is gaining popularity among younger audiences, with users frequently posting about their favorite flavors and demonstrating how to discreetly place pouches, often referred to colloquially as “upper deckies.”

Another unexpected discovery from the study was that teen girls are vaping at higher rates than boys.

“Historically, any kind of substance, you typically see that males have higher-use levels than females. But vaping, it’s appeared to kind of switch over recent years.”

He theorizes that marketing might influence these gender disparities. Initially targeted towards women seeking an alternative to cigarettes, Zyn now markets itself broadly, appealing to diverse demographics, including Wall Street professionals and celebrities like Josh Brolin. Former user Tucker Carlson plans to launch his own nicotine pouch brand, criticizing Zyn as insufficiently masculine. This rebranding could make nicotine pouches particularly appealing to teen boys, according to Leventhal.

Leventhal’s chief concern is that nicotine pouches may expose teens to even higher nicotine doses than e-cigarettes alone. The health risks associated with Zyn include potential gum damage, altered brain chemistry, and increased heart rates. Vaping similarly carries significant health risks comparable to traditional smoking, with both products being highly addictive.

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Although some TikTok users claim to use Zyn as a strategy to quit vaping, Leventhal emphasized that this is not an effective solution. Instead, dual usage often occurs, exacerbating overall nicotine exposure. “We don’t want children to use any nicotine products,” he said. “So all nicotine products should be avoided.”

Despite extensive campaigns to educate teens about nicotine’s dangers, their attraction to its effects remains consistent. According to previous studies from Leventhal’s team, adolescents are drawn to nicotine for its mood-enhancing properties, appetite suppression, and metabolism boost.

Leventhal explained that nicotine pouches appeal particularly to teens due to their discreet nature. Unlike vaping, nicotine pouches can be used subtly during classes, in movie theaters, or even around parents, heightening the risk of frequent and unnoticed use.

“To reverse this trend, we need to heighten public awareness about pouches and educate youth about them. Policymakers might also consider ramping up regulation of the booming pouch market—including cinnamon, fruit and other attractive flavors—to protect youth.”

The study also highlighted ongoing regulatory debates. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized marketing flavored nicotine pouches like Zyn to adults 21 and over, citing their potential role in helping smokers quit. However, the FDA did not approve these products as formal smoking cessation aids and less than 1% of adults currently use them, prompting concerns over teen appeal.

FDA’s authorization decision partly depended on the National Youth Tobacco Survey, which reported no statistically significant increase in teen pouch use, when asked about usage over the last 30 days, between 2023 and 2024. Yet, both the USC-led research and the FDA’s survey found significant year-over-year increases in lifetime pouch use among teens, suggesting experimentation may be growing.

Moving forward, continued monitoring of nicotine pouch trends, initiation patterns, nicotine content variations, and potential health impacts is vital. Researchers recommend that future studies also assess the effectiveness of regulatory policies, especially for high-risk demographics and dual users of nicotine products.

“Nicotine pouches are relatively new, so we need time to collect data on prevalence, policy and prevention,” Han said.

vaping

FDA Orders Juul To Stop Selling E-Cigarette Products

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On Thursday, federal health officials from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ordered Juul to remove its electronic cigarettes from the U.S. market as it continues to battle against the popular and addictive products that have seen high usage amongst teen groups.

Under the ruling, Juul cannot sell its e-cigarette device, along with its four kinds of tobacco and menthol-flavored Juul pods. It’s a move that dates back to April, when the FDA gained the ability to regulate e-cigarettes and other products that utilize synthetic nicotine.

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“Today’s action is further progress on the FDA’s commitment to ensuring that all e-cigarette and electronic nicotine delivery system products currently being marketed to consumers meet our public health standards,” FDA Commissioner Robert Califf, MD, said.

“We recognize these make up a significant part of the available products and many have played a disproportionate role in the rise in youth vaping.”

The ban only affects the commercial distribution, importation, and retail sales of Juul’s products and not those currently owned and used by a consumer. Juul had previously sought approval from the FDA in regards to its device and pods.

However, the FDA noted that Juul lacked “sufficient evidence” regarding the toxicological profile of their products in order to show their marketing would be appropriate for public health. Additionally, Juul’s studies also raised questions due to conflicting data — particularly in regard to genotoxicity and potential chemicals leaking from their pods — that were not addressed.

While the FDA said it didn’t receive any information that suggests an immediate hazard associated with using Juul products, their ban shows that the lack of health data played a critical part in the regulatory process.

E-cigarettes have become a staple of the country’s current youth. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), a 2021 survey found that 43.6% of high school students and 17.2% of middle school students reported using e-cigarettes on 20 or more of the last 30 days. One in four high schools smoke e-cigarettes daily, while that number is one in 12 for middle schoolers.

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The study also found that 53.7% used a disposable device, while 28.7% used a prefilled or refillable pod or cartridge device. Juul was found to have been the fourth-most used brand among students at 6.8% (130,000) behind Puff Bar, Vuse, and SMOK.

It’s another blow for a company that has often been blamed for starting the e-cigarette epidemic. It’s seen its total revenue fall from $2 billion in 2019 — when it possessed 600,000 daily users under 21 — to $1.3 billion in 2021, while its market share has endured similar falls.

That decline in sales can also be attributed to the FDA, which banned flavored e-cigarettes in 2018. Altria, which purchased a 35% stake in Juul Labs for $12.8 billion in 2018, already felt the heat in the form of a 10% stock drop Wednesday. This year, Altria values that stake at $1.6 billion, just 13% of their original purchase.

Meanwhile, the FDA will continue to review and regulate other e-cigarette products, many of which have never been through the application process before. The administration previously stated it’s reviewing 6.5 million applications from 500 companies, and have already rejected over 950,000.

Vaping

Is Vaping Safer than Smoking?

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When e-cigarettes were first introduced to the American public, they were marketed in large part as a safe tobacco-cessation aid, promising to help people quit smoking by allowing them to gradually reduce their nicotine intake over time. E-cigarettes and vaping generally were also marketed as healthier alternatives to cigarettes, as e-cigarette vapor does not contain much of the same tar and other harmful chemicals as cigarette smoke. In fact, Juul, one of the world’s largest e-cigarette companies, was found to have directly marketed to high-school kids, leveraging designs and flavors meant to appeal to teens and telling them that their products were “totally safe.” E-cigarette use has exploded in popularity in particular among young people, threatening decades of work done by the government to dissuade the younger generation from using recreational drugs like nicotine.

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While e-cigarettes have long been assumed to be safe due to the lack of combustion involved, recent events have introduced doubt about the safety of these devices. A few months ago, a string of vaping-related hospitalizations, some of which led to death, renewed fears that vaping is in fact more dangerous than companies like Juul have let on. In the aftermath of these mysterious illnesses, Walmart decided to stop selling e-cigarette devices, and some states even moved to ban flavored vaping products in an effort to minimize use among children and teenagers. The federal government has contemplated banning the sale of flavored e-cigarette ingredients as well, but has not yet done so. Eventually, the CDC tied the incidences of sudden, severe lung illness to counterfeit THC cartridges that were distributed in the black market, but an overall attitude of skepticism towards vaping in general persisted. Specifically, the researchers found that the ingredient vitamin E acetate, which is used as an additive to alter the consistency of THC oil, was to blame in this particular phenomenon.

While this year’s major health scare related to vaping turned out to be limited to counterfeit products, perceptions about the dangers of vaping persist and are supported by new evidence that suggests vaping can be responsible for some long-term illnesses. Specifically, an article published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine details a large study that compared the lungs of people who used e-cigarettes with cigarette smokers and those who did not consume nicotine over three years. Unsurprisingly, the last group had the lowest risk of developing a lung illness, but while e-cigarettes were found to cause problems in their own right, they were nonetheless considered safer and healthier than smoking.

“E-cigarettes should not be recommended.”

While differing in severity, the long-term health complications associated with vaping are similar to those associated with smoking cigarettes, and include chronic bronchitis and emphysema. The most dangerous form of nicotine consumption mentioned in the study was “dual use,” which is a combination of vaping and smoking, as not only does this practice maximize the amount of nicotine one consumes but it also exposes the lungs to the most amount of smoke or vapor. Dual use is the most common pattern of use the researchers found, signalling trouble for the millions of teenagers whose nicotine addictions are fueled by multiple vectors of drug consumption. The results of the three-year study corroborated animal studies on the effects of vapor on the lungs. Worryingly, the study also found that certain harmful ingredients, like propylene glycol, diacetyl, and even metals were present at a higher concentration in e-cigarette vapor than in combusted cigarette smoke. 

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Overall, the study is extremely critical of e-cigarettes, suggesting they are only valuable in a limited number of cases, and it concludes with the line “E-cigarettes should not be recommended.” In a small number of cases, e-cigarettes can be a good option for people who are trying to quit smoking as long as they use the devices with discipline and respect. While still harmful, e-cigarette vapor is less harmful than smoke, and vaping formulas can be adjusted over time to gradually reduce their nicotine content. That being said, as a result of the high prevalence of “dual use,” using e-cigarettes while trying to quit smoking can backfire, and indeed for most people using an e-cigarette is connected with an even lower chance of successfully quitting smoking. Other tobacco cessation aids, like nicotine-infused chewing gum or skin patches, are more effective in helping people quit and pose no threat to the health and safety of the lungs.

Girl Vaping

Researchers at Yale use Virtual Reality to Fight Teen Vaping

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The phenomenon of teen vaping has certainly drawn a tremendous amount of concern this year, as a record number of teens report using vaping products and public health officials worry that a generation of kids will grow up to suffer from lifelong nicotine addictions due to the explosion in popularity of e-cigarette brands like Juul. Regrettably, while much of the work that’s been done to discourage young people from smoking cigarettes has been successful, teens are developing nicotine addictions nonetheless due to the marketing success of e-cigarette companies, which have been found to deliberately market tobacco products to young people and non-smokers. While vaping is widely considered to be healthier than other forms of tobacco consumption, it carries with it its own set of health risks, as the long-term effects of consuming nicotine via vapor are as-of-yet unknown and a series of vaping-relating hospitalizations earlier this year demonstrated that some vape products can be dangerous and even deadly.

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Dissuading young people from vaping is a difficult task for a number of reasons. For one, nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs that exists, and vaping products allow users to easily consume very large amounts of nicotine relative to smoking cigarettes or other methods of tobacco use. Additionally, as their brains are still developing, teenagers have difficulty assessing risk and making smart long-term decisions for the future, making it harder for them to appreciate the dangerous impact vaping could have on their lives. Teenagers are also notorious for their resistance to authority, and can have a natural inclination to reject messages from authority figures, instead taking cues from their peers in order to fit in with their social environment. Many young people believe vaping to be safer than other forms of nicotine addiction, and while this could be true, such a belief can cloud a person’s judgment when considering whether to start vaping. As such, researchers and doctors must come up with novel solutions for persuading children and teenagers not to engage in dangerous behaviors like vaping.

Like vaping, virtual reality is a new technology that has taken off in recent years

One such solution was imagined at Yale University, where researchers developed a virtual reality video game with the intent of discouraging vaping among teenagers. Like vaping, virtual reality is a new technology that has taken off in recent years, as display technology and advancements in computer graphics have made a product which for decades has been confined to science-fiction stories a reality. The game is called “Invite Only,” and puts players in the role of a student in a high school environment as they engage in scenarios such as being offered a vape pen at school or at a party and encouraging a friend to quit vaping. In addition to its educational value, the game is meant to be fun, engaging players with various activities and mini-games.

Though the project was developed at Yale, it was funded by Oculus, a virtual reality technology company owned by Facebook, and was created in collaboration with PreviewLabs Inc., a New Haven-based game developer. The game is the subject of an ongoing experiment, involving 300 students, designed to assess whether virtual reality technology holds promise as an educational and public health tool. The educational aspect of game-play involves players choosing from a number of dialogue options when engaging in conversations with in-game characters, which tests their knowledge about the effects of vaping products and the availability of resources to help people who want to quit. For instance, the game teaches players that they can text the word “quit” to 47848 for information about vaping-cessation resources, and that they should consult with a trusted adult, such as a parent or doctor, for help with their nicotine addictions.

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In the past, similar programs that leverage gaming to send an anti-drug-use message have been developed, with varying success. But the researchers hope that virtual reality will do a better job by immersing children and teenagers in a virtual environment that helps them imagine how drug use can impact their own lives as well as the lives of their peers, particularly in a world that is densely saturated with tablets and smartphones, which compete for young people’s attention. While the cost of virtual reality has decreased dramatically in recent years, the price of a virtual reality headset can still impose a burden on some, as the Oculus Go headset for which “Invite Only” was developed costs $150 or more. However, if schools are willing to invest in virtual reality technology, researchers hope that this platform can be leveraged not only to dissuade kids from vaping, but for other educational opportunities as well. The Yale researchers expect to have final results from the experiment by next year.

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Lung Cancer Rates Are Down In The U.S. But Doctors Still Want You To Get Annual Screenings

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With vaping making all health headlines within the past year, it seems as though Americans are experiencing a large lung injury epidemic. However, according to a recent study published by the American Lung Association, lung cancer rates have decreased substantially within the past decade here in the United States. 

Specifically, the rate of new lung cancer cases in the U.S, has dropped 19% within the past ten years and the five year survival rate with the disease has increased 26%! While these numbers are quite incredible, lung cancer is still the leading cause of cancer related death as well, a title it’s unfortunately almost always held. In general the American Lung Association reported that between 2012 and 2016, there was an average of 60 lung cancer cases per 100,000 people. The numbers overall varied state by state, Utah holds the lowest rate with an average of 27 people, while Kentucky holds the highest rate with 96 people per 100,000. The same goes for the percentage of survival rates in each state; the lowest being 16.8% in Alabama, and the highest being 26.4% survival in Connecticut, according to the report.

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The best chance at surviving this vicious cancer is to detect it early on, which unfortunately doesn’t happen to often. In fact, in the state by state data the highest rate of early detection for new lung cancer cases is only 28.1% in Wyoming; the lowest being 16.6% in Alaska. 

“Most cases are only caught at a very late stage. You don’t get symptoms until it’s very late and it’s very developed. If you get diagnosed at an early stage, which very few people are, the tumor’s often limited, it hasn’t spread and at that point, you’re often eligible for surgery where they can cut it out and it’s essentially curative. The difference between an early diagnosis and a late diagnosis is about a five times higher survival rate,” said Zach Jump, national director for epidemiology and statistics at the American Lung Association.

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The biggest take away the American Lung Association wants to convey to readers with their annual reports is that yearly lung cancer screening are at the minimum the best way to prevent yourself from becoming a part of any of these statistics. This is especially true for those with a higher risk for the disease, whether that means genetically, or if you’re a dedicated smoker. However, the reality is that many individuals don’t ever get screened because of the assumption that they’re completely healthy. This is especially true for those at the highest of risks. The ALA’s report states that the screening rates for adults considered to be “high risk” is only 4.2% nationally!

The ALA wants Americans to know that there really is no harm in just getting screened. You don’t want to become just a number on an annual report, you want to be an actual human being who lives out the rest of their lives happy and healthy, so don’t be afraid to go get screened. 

“The report found that lung cancer rates for every measure vary significantly by state, and that every state can do more to defeat lung cancer, such as increasing the rate of screening among those at high risk, addressing disparities in receipt of treatment, decreasing exposure to radon and secondhand smoke and eliminating tobacco use. This report provides unique information for state officials, policymakers, researchers and those affected by lung cancer and emphasizes the need for resources and action to decrease the toll of lung cancer across the country,”  researchers wrote in the report.

Marijuana Joint

Marijuana Use Linked with Heart Problems and Increased Risk of Stroke

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Marijuana has long been one of the world’s most frequently used recreational drugs, and the public perceives the drug to be relatively safe, leading to its legalization in several US states as well as Canada. However, due in large part to its federal classification as a schedule I substance, available research on the health effects of the drug is limited, as scientists have long had severely restricted access to the substance. As its use continues to develop across multiple demographics, however, scientists are escalating their research of marijuana and its effects. It’s long been understood that marijuana use during adolescence can lead to lifelong psychological problems, including problems with memory and diminished IQ. However, recent research is uncovering marijuana’s negative effects on other parts of the body including the lungs, and surprisingly, the heart.

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Marijuana is well-known for causing among its effects changes in heart rhythm. As the drug’s effects are felt for roughly three hours when smoked, these changes are temporary, and heart function returns to normal after the drug wears off. However, arrhythmia experienced during marijuana use can cause greater circulatory problems afterwards, particularly in heavy users. As such, sufferers of cannabis use disorder, who use the drug frequently and compulsively, are at increased risk of being hospitalized for arrhythmia. Though arrhythmia, a condition in which the heart’s rhythm is disturbed and irregular, is often benign, it can also lead to life-threatening complications. Lower doses of marijuana are associated with a too-fast heartbeat, whereas higher doses are linked with a too-slow heartbeat. The concern about the link between arrhythmia and marijuana use is particularly strong for young people, who in the study were shown to have the greatest risk of hospitalization.

While some methods of consuming marijuana are less dangerous than others, the safest and healthiest option is to avoid using recreational drugs altogether.

In addition to being linked with heart rhythm problems, marijuana use has also been shown to be linked with an increased risk of stroke, with frequent marijuana users being more than twice as likely to suffer a stroke compared to non-users. Again, this is true even in young people, who normally are much less likely to suffer a stroke than older people. This risk is compounded among people who use marijuana in addition to tobacco and have other health problems, including high blood pressure, that are known to increase one’s risk of stroke. Though the study does not establish a direct causal relationship between using marijuana and suffering a stroke, previous studies have shown that marijuana use leads to increased blood clotting and a narrowing of the arteries, suggesting a likely explanation.

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Researchers behind both studies, which are scheduled to be presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association this Saturday, November 16th, conclude that doctors should ask patients who have suffered a stroke or have heart problems whether they use marijuana so as to better prepare treatment options. As the studies have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, their findings are considered preliminary. Though the American Heart Association takes no position on the legalization of marijuana, it recommends that public health protections such as age restrictions on purchasing the drug and smoke-free air laws be put into place.

Disturbing evidence about the negative health effects of marijuana also recently arose in the aftermath of a spate of hospitalizations in connection with a series of mysterious vaping-related lung injuries, some of which lead to death. Recently, the CDC revealed that the ingredient believed to cause these emergencies is Vitamin E acetate, a chemical sometimes added to THC vape products to change the consistency of the oil, particularly on the black market. Of course, smoking marijuana also harms the respiratory system, as tar accumulates inside the lungs and carcinogens enter the body. While some methods of consuming marijuana are less dangerous than others, the safest and healthiest option is to avoid using recreational drugs altogether.

E-ciggs

FDA Failed to Act on E-Cigarette Regulations

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The F.D.A. is a longstanding American institution which is trusted to ensure that the products available to the American consumer are safe and effective. But the recent emergence of more than a thousand lung illnesses related to e-cigarette and vape pen use has raised questions about the organization’s effectiveness in ensuring the safety of the new category of products. While e-cigarettes have been around for more than ten years, they have long been presumed to be safe despite a lack of thorough scientific research, and in recent months this presumption of safety has been called into question. In response to the outbreak of vaping-related illnesses, some of which have been deadly, journalists have conducted interviews with current and former government officials and public health experts to reveal a myriad number of factors, from lobbying to fears of political ramifications to excessive bureaucracy, that paralyzed the F.D.A. and enabled the beginning of what may very well become a long-lasting public health crisis.

Though the general public has only recently come to understand the serious health complications posed by vaping, public health officials have warned of this risk as early as 2013, with limited success. Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, former director of the F.D.A., issued a public warning that year about the rise of vaping, the fact that potential health issues were as-of-then unknown, and in particular the risk of developing nicotine addiction vaping posed to adolescents. The F.D.A., however, was unable to regulate the burgeoning industry, as two e-cigarette companies successfully sued the F.D.A for treating the devices as drugs rather than as tobacco products, which are subject to less stringent regulations. At the time, the Obama administration was more focused on the rollout of the Affordable Care Act than on other regulations, and in Obama’s last year in office, his administration rejected an F.D.A. proposal to ban flavored e-cigarettes, amidst intense lobbying from the industry.

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President Trump’s director of the F.D.A., Dr. Scott Gottleib, who had previously served on the board of a chain of vaping lounges, granted a four-year extension to e-cigarette companies before they had to prove that the public benefits of their products outweigh their risks, creating an opportunity for companies like Juul to flourish. Dr. Frieden described this extension as “public health malpractice,” as the addictive potential of nicotine and e-cigarettes’ appeal to young people was by then already well-known. Unlike most public health experts, Dr. Gottleib saw e-cigarettes as having potential to become valuable smoking cessation tools, rather than as a gateway to nicotine addiction and other tobacco products. And when it comes to vaping T.H.C., the active ingredient in marijuana, the F.D.A. is virtually silent, as the drug is still illegal at a federal level, and the rise in popularity of this method for getting high has been rapid.

In the aftermath of the spate of vaping-related illnesses, the F.D.A. has finally announced an intention to ban flavored e-cigarettes, but faces an uphill battle in doing so, as the industry vehemently opposes this sort of regulation. However, a federal judge recently overturned Dr. Gottleib’s four-year extension, meaning e-cigarette companies will have to demonstrate the public benefit of their products sooner than they previously thought. Though e-cigarette companies claim their products offer a less harmful alternative to cigarettes, the continuing rise of e-cigarette use among teenagers threatens to undermine this argument, as regulators are likely to believe the risk of developing deadly lung illnesses outweighs the benefits of the technology as a smoking-cessation tool. But for now, e-cigarettes remain on the market, in most states largely unregulated, even as they continue to pose a serious risk to health and life, which is sure to get worse as time goes on unless action is taken.

Girl Vaping

Health Scares Spell Trouble for Vaping Industry

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Recently, a string of vaping-related hospitalizations made headlines and led to growing concerns about the safety of e-cigarettes marketed as healthier alternatives to cigarettes and other tobacco products. In the aftermath of this news, a number of states have moved to ban flavored vaping products, and the federal government even contemplated the idea of banning all flavors of vapor except tobacco nationwide. This sudden spike in concern has led to problems for the vaping industry, as blame is being placed squarely on the manufacturers of nicotine-containing products for the public health epidemic, and as the growing popularity of vaping among teenagers and young people threatens to undo the work of several decades of public campaigns aimed at curbing nicotine addiction.

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Juul, a brand which has become synonymous with vaping as it controls roughly 70% of the e-cigarette market, recently saw a change of leadership as it replaced its CEO with a former tobacco executive. A sudden change in leadership is never a good sign for a company, particularly one as large as Juul, and this news comes amidst other troubling developments for the company. Recently, the F.D.A. claimed that Juul broke the law by implying that e-cigarettes were safer than traditional cigarettes despite the lack of scientific evidence concerning the long-term health effects of using the products. Even more disconcertingly, the F.D.A found that Juul was marketing their products to teenagers in high schools as part of a campaign ostensibly targeted at reducing tobacco use by young people. Juul has said that it intends on fully cooperating with the F.D.A.’s regulations, and has announced it will not fight a proposed ban on flavored nicotine cartridges. Next year, e-cigarettes are scheduled to be banned in San Francisco, and Juul is considering whether or not they should abandon a ballot initiative to overturn the ban.

In order to stay on the market in the United States, Juul and other similar companies have to be able to prove that their products promote public health more than they harm it, which is growing increasingly difficult as the news reports of vaping-related hospitalizations and an epidemic of nicotine addiction in young people. While initially envisioned as a tool to help people quit smoking, vaping has instead become a fashionable trend, and many who are addicted to nicotine have no history of smoking cigarettes. The rise in popularity of e-cigarettes has been explosive, and while F.D.A. regulations concerning the sale of nicotine products have long been in effect, regulatory bodies have yet to catch up with the specific public health problems that e-cigarettes in particular pose. 

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Health professionals across the country are in virtual consensus in advising against the use of e-cigarettes, except as replacements for cigarettes as smoking cessation devices. Even then, there are nicotine delivery systems, such as chewing gum and patches, that are likely safer than vaping as they do not involve any inhalation of chemicals. The director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Dr. Nora Volkow, said that e-cigarettes should be clinically tested to determine whether they are effective as smoking cessation tools, and if they are they should only be available by prescription, which is the same standard to which other potentially dangerous drugs are held.

While recent develops certainly don’t bode well for the e-cigarette industry, it’s difficult to make any concrete predictions about the fate of affected companies. Famously, the tobacco industry spent millions of dollars lobbying against the notion that cigarettes cause cancer and other health problems, and were very successful in doing so for several years. Vaping has become so widespread that its popularity perhaps even eclipses that of the tobacco products that preceded it, and as a result, the industry has a lot of money to spend on resisting regulatory efforts. However, the government has fought Big Tobacco before, pioneering widespread public health campaigns in an attempt to stop tobacco use, and as such has plenty of relevant experience to apply to fighting Juul and similar companies. Meanwhile, a meaningful segment of an entire generation of young people who otherwise would not have been exposed to nicotine are addicted to vaping, and only time will tell how they will be able to get their nicotine fix in the years to come.

JUUL

Juul’s CEO Resigns In Response To Health Epidemic

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As the United States continues to fight a massive vaping-related lung illness epidemic, Juul Labs, one of the countries largest and newest e-cigarette distributors, has taken some hefty measures. Kevin Burns, the CEO of Juul Labs, has resigned effective immediately on Wednesday (September 24th). While the official word is that Burns resigned, representatives from the Altria Group, Juul Lab’s top investors, say it was their decision.

Burns personally apologized for contributing to the teen vaping epidemic with the announcement that he was leaving the company stating that he’s “very proud of [his] team’s efforts to lead the industry toward much needed category-wide action to tackle underage usage of these products, which are intended for adult smokers only.” 

Taking over for Burns will be Altria’s current senior vice president and chief strategy and growth officer, K.C. Crosthwaite. The company also announced that the business merger that was in the works between Juul and Philip Morris International, which sells Marlboro internationally, has been cancelled. Additionally a statement was released stating that Juul Labs will no longer produce any broadcast, print, and digital advertisements for itself in a greater attempt to comply with new federal e-cigarette policies as our government continues to finalize them. So the company is taking some major steps to get the hear from this epidemic off of them. 

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The United States has reported up to 530 cases of vape-related lung illness, and nine deaths among six different states. Scientists still have no idea what the main cause of this illness is, and while a majority of the vape products linked to these cases contain THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, they are still deeply analyzing ingredients in e-cigarette and nicotine vapes as well. 

A year ago Juul most likely never saw such a major downward spin coming, as the company became one of the most popular e-cigarette products on the market; which was precisely the problem. Juul Labs was known for their sleek USB-esque design and multitude of flavor pods such as fruit punch and creme brulee. This isn’t Juul’s first run in with government regulations, back in October 2018, the FDA performed a surprise raid of the companies headquarters and seized thousands of documents in an attempt to prove that Juul was purposefully advertising to a younger audience with its “fun and fruity” flavors. While Juul Labs never formally admitted to the accusation, the company did cease the distribution of any flavored pods besides tobacco, menthol, and mint. However, with a massive amount of off-brand Juul-compatible pods being left on the market, the teenage epidemic continued. 

Today, however, the Trump administration is working hard to federally regulate all flavored vaping products in response to the growth in teenage vape use, and rising national health concerns. So far there’s been a massive success, for example New York has already banned the selling of any flavored vape products/liquids. 

In a statement made to USA Today, new CEO Crosthwaite said the company “will continue a broad review of the company’s practices and policies to ensure alignment with its aim of responsible leadership within the industry. I have long believed in a future where adult smokers overwhelmingly choose alternative products from cigarettes, however that future is at risk due to unacceptable levels of youth usage and eroding public confidence in our industry. Against that backdrop, we must strive to work with regulators and policymakers and earn the trust of the societies in which we operate. That includes inviting an open dialogue, listening to others and being responsive to their concerns.”