Vaping: The Trend that Officials have labeled an “Epidemic”

Recent deaths that have been linked to vaping has officials looking to take action.

Recent uproar has surrounded vaping after six deaths in and many illnesses in recent months have been linked to a vaping-related lung disease.

President Trump’s Administration announced Sept. 11 that they are planning to place a ban all non-tobacco flavored e-cigarettes in hope of limiting teen use of these products. According to the New York Times, Alex M. Azar II, the health and human services secretary said the Food and Drug Administration will prepare a plan to ban most flavored e-cigarettes, including popular flavors like mint and menthol. This ban comes after a restriction last year of Juul flavored products like Mango and Cucumber. However, this ban will not affect marijuana vape regulations where marijuana is legal, an issue that state officials have said are related to vaping products containing THC.

Vaping isn’t exactly a new phenomenon. The e-cigarettes that are wildly popular today were introduced to the U.S. in 2007, according to Vaping Daily. They were originally introduced as a substitute to help adults addicted to smoking eventually quit.

Since then, what health officials have labeled as an “epidemic” has affected thousands of youth. Teens are turning to products like Juul for flavored pods that contain as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes. As a result of vaping, there have been many illnesses linked to vaping where people are experiencing vomiting, fatigue, signs of a fever and shortness of breath. Health officials are unsure as what the root cause is. There is debate about whether it is the e-cigarette itself, or if contaminated cartridges are being sold and used.

It is still unclear when this ban could go into place, but the review of flavors by the FDA has been pushed up to this year’s agenda, according to CNBC.