by Katherine Sperduto ‘19

 The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced plans to take further actions to toughen up on companies that sell e-cigarettes/vape pens to adolescents. In July, the FDA announced a comprehensive plan which aims to reduce the amount of nicotine in cigarettes to non-addictive levels. Adding on to this plan the past month, the FDA sent out roughly 40 warning letters about JUULS, e-cigarettes that resemble a “flash drive” appearance, and the pods that go along with them. The pods are e-liquid cartridges that come in a variety of flavors and contain as much nicotine as one pack of cigarettes.

With its initial intention to help addicted adult smokers, e-cigarettes are falling into the hands of minors more than they are the hands of addicted smokers, raising the risk of new generation addicted to nicotine. The warning letters were issued after undercover investigations found numerous violations of the illegal selling of e-cigarette products to minors. The FDA also states that it required that eBay remove e-cigarettes and Juuls from their market, and sent out a request for information directly to JUUL Lab, which requires the company to review how it is marketing products and attracting adolescents. The FDA will continue to examine the health policy trade-offs of a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes verses new products that seem uniquely appealing to teens.