Strengthening enforcement against illegal flavored vaping products

OPINION – As students return to campus this month, the presence of vaping is becoming normalized and more prevalent. It’s shocking that our youth’s awareness about the harm these products can cause remains stubbornly low.

The U.S. Surgeon General has warned that vaping poses significant risks: including damage to the heart, lungs and parts of the brain that control attention and learning, as well as an increased risk of addiction to other substances. Beyond their physical health, vaping can also negatively impact a student’s academic success. A 2021 study found that students who began to use e-cigarettes missed assignments, skipped classes, and reported lower GPAs than those who didn’t use tobacco products.

Last year, I proudly authored Assembly Bill 935, a measure that explicitly authorized the California Department of Health to enforce the ban on flavored tobacco products here in California. This law now aims to curb the alarming rise in youth tobacco use driven by these enticing, addictive products. However, while our state has made strides, the battle is far from over. The broader national issue persists, and it’s high time for the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to step up its enforcement.

Despite our state’s efforts, teenagers across the country continue to access flavored vaping products at retail locations. The consequences of this are dire: a new generation of youths is falling victim to nicotine addiction, which can have lifelong health repercussions.

Just last week, the American Medical Association (AMA) highlighted the urgent need to reduce youth access to e-cigarettes. For the tenth consecutive year, e-cigarettes have remained the most popular tobacco product among middle and high school students. In 2023, approximately 2.8 million middle and high school students in the U.S. used at least one tobacco product. This is concerning, as tobacco use during adolescence significantly raises the risk of lifelong nicotine addiction and negative health consequences.

“Some of the commonly reported motivations for e-cigarette use among adolescents include curiosity, appealing flavors such as fruit and candy, family and peer influence, and stress reduction. Other reasons include social acceptability, convenient and customizable features, a variety of flavors and a lack of awareness about the presence of nicotine,” the AMA report said.

That’s why it is imperative the FDA reinforce its enforcement of the flavored tobacco ban. Existing regulations are clear, but they need robust enforcement to be effective. We must ensure that illegal flavored vaping products are removed from store shelves nationwide.

Strengthening enforcement will not only support our local and state efforts, but also protect youth across the country from the dangers of nicotine addiction.

I urge my colleagues and state policymakers to join in this call for action. Let’s work together to safeguard our children’s health by pushing for stricter FDA enforcement. We must act decisively to eliminate these harmful products and prevent a new generation from falling prey to nicotine addiction.

Assemblymember Damon Connolly represents the 12^th California Assembly District.