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Tobacco, E-Cig, & Vaping Prevention

Cause for Concern

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has become increasingly popular. Many questions remain about these products, and further study is needed to adequately determine any long-term risks as well as any potential benefits of their use. Public health concerns about these products include regulation, youth use, and unrestricted marketing of these products.

Unregulated by the FDA

E-cigarettes are currently unregulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and there are no safety checks or requirements for what can go into an e-cigarette. Nearly 500 brands and 7,700 flavors of e-cigarettes are on the market, all without an FDA evaluation.

In fact, a 2014 study found little consistency in the amount of nicotine delivered by e-cigarettes of the same brand and strength. Similarly, another 2014 study found that the amount of nicotine in e-liquid refills often is substantially different from the amount listed on the package.

Youth Use is Skyrocketing

E-cigarette use among middle and high school students tripled from 2013 to 2014, according to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). Findings from the 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey show that current e-cigarette use (use on at least 1 day in the past 30 days) among high school students increased from 4.5 percent in 2013 to 13.4 percent in 2014, rising from approximately 660,000 to 2 million students. Among middle school students, current e-cigarette use more than tripled from 1.1 percent in 2013 to 3.9 percent in 2014—an increase from approximately 120,000 to 450,000 students.

Unrestricted Marketing and Advertising

E-cigarette company marketing tactics continue to mirror Big Tobacco’s old strategies such as using celebrity endorsements, sports, music festivals, sex appeal, candy flavoring, and brightly colored packaging to sell their products.

Bottom line, we do not want youth inhaling addictive chemicals, and adults should know which and how much addictive chemicals they are inhaling. Adults also deserve to have a comprehensive picture of the risks and potential benefits of using e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool.

BPHCS has launched a public education campaign and toolkit to reach youth who have never smoked tobacco but are now experimenting with vaping, and adults who have switched from tobacco to vaping hoping that it will help them quit their addiction to nicotine.

Campaign Components:

Get campaign materials here

View Bangor Public Health’s Videos on YouTube

Vaping/ E-Cigarette Prevention Toolkit

The resources in this section are for any worksite, business, or public place.
Whether you’re looking for basic information about vaping, or want to update/ implement a tobacco-free workplace policy that includes e-cigarettes – we welcome you to use and share these tools.

For personalized technical assistance, training, or policy development, email us at bgrpublichealth@gmail.com

Worksite and Business Resources

School and Youth-Serving Organization Resources

The resources in this section are for schools and other youth-serving organizations. For personalized technical assistance, training, or policy development, email us at bgrpublichealth@gmail.com