Crack down on illegal vape sales to kids
As we enter a busy and noisy campaign season, my hope is that our elected leaders and those seeking office will show a renewed commitment to prioritizing the issues that matter most.
As we look at the many challenges facing our communities today, one priority stands out most to me — protecting the health and safety of our next generation.
As a former school resource officer and current president of the Pennsylvania Association of School Resource Officers, I have spent countless hours in schools, building relationships with young people of all ages. I have seen firsthand the dangers facing them in the form of illegal tobacco products and the devices used to hide and conceal them.
And the worst part: These products are manufactured in China in candy and fruit flavors with unknown materials and substances and then illegally sold to children through predators both online and in our streets.
Our country is failing to protect young people from these criminals targeting them with tobacco and nicotine products. It’s time for our government to step up and do something about it.
The number of disposable, flavored vapes — primarily from Chinese manufacturers — has increased 1,500% since 2020 and has surpassed the federal government’s enforcement abilities, leaving many harmful and illegal products on shelves across the country.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s annual National Youth Tobacco Survey revealed that 9 out of 10 children reported using flavored vapes, with fruit and candy flavors being the most popular.
For the first time in history, the two vape brands cited most often by the children surveyed are illegal, disposable vapes.
And out of those middle and high school students surveyed, it’s estimated that 1.16 million, or more than 57%, use a brand called Elf Bar that’s illegal for sale in the United States.
These statistics alone are alarming for any parent, guardian or teacher, but the most infuriating fact is how our government is unable to stop these illegal products from seducing America’s youth.
The Food and Drug Administration has not approved a single vape in fruity or candy flavors for sale, and it has rejected many thousands. But without an effective enforcement strategy, the very products that have been banned from coast to coast are the products that are most used by America’s children.
Unfortunately, instead of hearing a clear and focused plan for addressing these alarming trends,
I see our government making issues like banning menthol cigarettes a policy priority.
The fact is that government bans without proper enforcement strategies just open the door to criminal trafficking.
Just like alcohol prohibition in the 1920s created a violent underground market for gangsters and bootleggers, the FDA’s failed enforcement of the vape market has allowed criminals to target our children. Progressive public health strategies that embrace harm reduction instead of product bans can help move cigarette smokers to healthier alternatives instead of fueling criminal activity.
We need to stop the obsession with issues like menthol cigarettes and start to refocus on protecting our kids.
What I want to hear from our leaders is a clear vision and a strong plan to crack down on foreign companies that are illegally targeting our kids with dangerous vaping products. Included in that plan needs to be an approach to help our children break their newfound addiction before it takes over their lives and impacts their future.
Now is the time for the nation’s elected leaders — and those who want to lead our country forward —to show Americans that they have a vision and a plan to tackle the problems that matter most and lead America forward.
We need a clear vision and strong plan to crack down on foreign companies illegally targeting our kids.