Our opinion: no place for sweet flavors in the battle of the e-cigarette | Opinion



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The Food and Drug Administration announced last week its intention to ban the sale of sweet electronic cigarette perfumes at gas stations and convenience stores.

FDA President Dr. Scott Gottlieb has stated that the use of e-cigarettes among adolescents has reached an "epidemic" level.

FDA data shows that youth vaping is up 75% from last year.

Although sweet flavors are forbidden, electronic cigarettes will still be available in these places, such as tobacco, mint and menthol. The FDA also provides for more stringent age verification requirements for the online sale of electronic cigarettes.

The ban came after the FDA sent nearly 1,200 letters to online stores and retailers warning that they could be fined for selling electronic cigarettes to people under 18. Beyond the fines, notifications were sent to the main days detailing ways to limit sales to underage consumers. But manufacturers could not prove that they were doing enough to keep e-cigs out of teenagers' hands.

Sweet flavors such as bubble gum and chocolate chip cookie dough are particularly appealing to young people. Many believe that these flavors attract teens to vaping which then serves as a gateway to the traditional cigarette.

The use of any type of tobacco product by teens is dangerous because experts say that nicotine is addictive and harms brain development, said Tami Silverman, president and CEO of the company. Indiana Youth Institute.

Overall, Indiana ranks 34th in the country in child health, said Silverman.

"We can and must do better," she said. "We will not change these trends without investing in our children and our communities."

Little is known about the possible long-term effects of vaping on health. More research is needed before it can be determined that electronic cigarettes are much safer than traditional cigarettes.

We know that nicotine is a highly addictive substance that has been linked to health problems, especially heart disease, and that teenage vaping is a disturbing trend that needs to be reversed. The ban on sweet juices is a step that could help.

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