In 2004, Chinese entrepreneurs introduced e-cigarettes—handheld battery-powered vaporizers that simulate smoking—to the world. The heating element in e-cigarettes produces vapors, which are inhaled. Within 15 short years, vaping has become a $10 billion dollar business in the U.S. alone. Alarmingly, the use of e-cigarettes by teens is soaring. According to a 2017 study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), about 50 percent more high schoolers and middle schoolers vape than smoke. In 2018, over 3 million U.S. kids, including 25% of high school students and 5% of middle school students, were regular users.
Rates of vaping amongst young continue to escalate, fueled by the lure of flavors akin to apple juice, bubble gum, and Nerds. Unfortunately, e-cigarettes are not safe. Not only does the nicotine in the device cause harmful effects to the young brain, but the flavors used in e-cigarettes are toxic. The numbers of young vapors with lung disease and asthma exacerbations are climbing. In addition, e-cigarettes have adverse effects on other parts of the body as well.
Zietchick Research Institute warns that vapor-related explosions have been reported to cause severe eye injury and that dry eye is exacerbated by vaping. On September 3, 2019, Governor Whitmer of Michigan made the following announcement: “As governor, my number one priority is keeping our kids safe. And right now, companies selling vaping products are using candy flavors to hook children on nicotine and misleading claims to promote the belief that these products are safe. That ends today. Our kids deserve leaders who are going to fight to protect them.
These bold steps will finally put an end to these irresponsible and deceptive practices and protect Michiganders’ public health.” Governor Whitmer ordered the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services to ban the sale of flavored vaping products in retail stores and online and ban misleading marketing of vaping products, including the use of terms like “clean,” “safe,” and “healthy” that give the false impression that e-cigarettes do not cause any harm. Michigan is proud to be the first state to aggressively stand against the exposure of youth to e-cigarettes. The governor also ordered the Michigan Department of Transportation to enforce an existing statute to prohibit the advertising of vapor products on billboards. Hopefully, other states will soon follow suit to protect their kids from the addictive and harmful effects of vaping.
