Efforts needed on all fronts to stop teen vaping

Stores, parents and teens themselves all have roles to play

Youth vaping is now officially an epidemic, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA made the announcement Wednesday, and gave the five major vape pen manufacturers 60 days to submit plans to prevent youth vaping, the Associated Press reports. Those five companies – Juul, Vuse, MarkTen XL, Blu and Logic are responsible for more than 97 percent of the U.S. e-cigarette market, the FDA notes.

However, the FDA did not release specific statistics on teens and vaping, AP reports. Instead, the FDA said updated figures will be released in the coming months.

One of the biggest points of contention is the use of flavors in vaping products. The Yuma Sun took a look at some of the vaping websites, and the flavors fall into categories such as fruit, candy, dessert and cereal. Critics contend that e-cigarette companies are targeting children and teens with the flavors.

The FDA is taking notice, and if manufacturers don’t reverse the trend of teens and vaping, they could risk a ban on flavored products, the AP reports.

But will getting rid of flavors discourage kids? That’s unlikely. It’s a factor, but not the only factor.

Instead, make it more difficult for kids to access the devices, period.

And parents, talk to your child about the dangers of vaping, the addictive properties of nicotine, and the damage it can cause to your body.

Don’t rely on the stores to make it tough, or the FDA to impose penalties. Get in front of the problem, and be proactive with your child.

By not releasing the statistics and data on teens and vaping, it can be hard for companies and parents alike to take the concern seriously. Numbers showing the increase can drive the point home.

There is no question that nicotine is dangerous, and should not fall into the hands of teens and children.

There are multiple parts to this puzzle. Stores need to be aggressive, and not sell vaping products to teens. Companies also need to make sure their marketing is hitting an adult audience, and not targeting teens.

Parents, meanwhile, need to be proactive with their teens, and help them understand why vaping is a bad idea. And teens … do your research, and be smart about what you consume.