By Deb Risden
Electronic cigarettes were developed in 1965 and patented in 2003. According to the National Center for Biotechnology, they were introduced in the U.S. in 2007. E-cigarettes were marketed as an aid to quitting smoking tobacco cigarettes.
Tobaccofreeco.org describes vaping as “the act of inhaling and exhaling vaporized liquid (known as “e-juice”) from an electronic device. This liquid may contain nicotine, THC, flavoring, and other additives. These devices go by many names including e-cigarettes, smokeless cigarettes, vaporizers, vape pens, mods, tanks, cigalikes, JUUL, e-hookah and hookah pens.”
As of July 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized the sale of 34 e-cigarette products out of more than 6,000 on the market. Three different companies manufacture the 34 products: Logic Technology Development LLC, NJOY LLC and R.J. Reynolds Vapor Company. Although the 34 authorized products were found by FDA to meet the statutory public health standard, the FDA.gov site states: “While these products are authorized to be sold in the U.S., it does not mean these products are safe nor are they ‘FDA approved.’ All tobacco products are harmful and potentially addictive. Those who do not use tobacco products shouldn’t start.”
The American Lung Association said researchers have found certain toxic chemicals and metals in e-cigarettes, such as nicotine, which is highly addictive and negatively affects adolescent brain development; propylene glycol, a food additive also used in antifreeze and paint solvent; acetaldehyde and formaldehyde, known to cause cancer; acrolein, an herbicide that can cause lung damage; diacetyl, a chemical that has been linked to bronchiolitis obliterans, a fatal lung disease; diethylene glycol, a chemical used in antifreeze; heavy metals; cadmium, a toxic metal used in cigarettes; benzene, a volatile organic compound found in car exhaust; and other ultrafine particles that can be inhaled into the lungs.
Youth and vaping
According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, results of the 2021 Healthy Kids Colorado Survey indicated Colorado’s youth were vaping in fewer numbers, the first time a significant decrease has been found since 2015. The 2023 HKCS continues to see decreases, although modest. The HKCS survey collects data anonymously from over 100,000 public school middle and high school students across the state.
HKCS findings — high school youth
- 9% of youth vaped within the past month (decrease from 16% in 2021)
- 49% of youth feel it would be easy to get electronic vapor products if they wanted (a decrease from 51% in 2021)
- 79% of youth think it is wrong for someone of the same age to vape (an increase from 70% in 2021)
- 95% of youth think their parents/guardians would feel it is wrong if they vaped (an increase from 94% in 2021)
HKCS findings — middle school youth
- 14% of youth ever vaped (no change from 2021)
- 6% of youth vaped within the past month (no change from 2021)
- 24% of youth feel it would be easy to get electronic vapor products if they wanted (a new question in 2023)
- 92% of youth think it is wrong for someone of the same age to vape (no change from 2021)
- 97% of youth think their parents/guardians would feel it is wrong if they vaped (a new question in 2023)
Source: https://cdphe.colorado.gov/hkcs
E-cigarette sales
A Center for Disease Control study conducted between 2020 and 2022 found overall sales of e-cigarettes increased by 46.6% in the study period, and the sale of prefilled e-cigarettes decreased from 75.2% to 48.0%. Disposable e-cigarette sales more than doubled. The CDC said the changes came after the FDA announced the need to prioritize enforcement against prefilled cartridges in flavors other than tobacco and menthol. The study reports that other flavors, such as candy/sweets, chocolate, fruit and clove/spice increased from 29.2% to 41.3%.
The CDC reports some decrease in sales from May through December 2022. “This development likely reflects multiple factors, including local and state restrictions on flavored tobacco product sales, FDA regulatory actions, potential COVID-19–associated supply chain disruptions, inflation, and a recent proliferation of large format disposable e-cigarettes that may permit higher nicotine consumption per unit,” according to CDC.gov.
Local solutions
Colorado and other states sued Juul Labs, Inc., an e-cigarette manufacturer, in 2020 for their marketing practices targeting youth and misrepresenting the health risks of vaping. A 2023 settlement granted Colorado $31.7 million and restrictions were placed on Juul as to how it can advertise in the state of Colorado. The Department of Law is partnering with the Colorado Department of Education to award $11.4 million to school districts to be used for programs for youth prevention of tobacco use over the next three years.
School District 49 applied for a Vaping Education Prevention Grant from the lawsuit proceeds and were granted $126,961 by the Colorado Department of Education. There were a total of 30 awards granted for the first year.
Peter Hilts, D 49 superintendent, said the district is taking vaping seriously as a challenge for personal development and public health. Hilts said, “We are using a combination of education, monitoring and intervention to try and disrupt the pattern before it becomes some kind of dependency or addiction.”
Hilts said the district won the grant because of a focus on a comprehensive solution. “We will focus on social, psychological and educational aspects. Not everyone who vapes understands the impacts or vulnerabilities,” he said.
