The Legislature’s decision this year to raise the age for the purchase of vaping products is looking prescient.
A rash of vaping-related lung illnesses across the country highlight the dangers of the relatively new products and have drawn attention from federal officials. Vaping has recently led to hundreds of illnesses and at least six deaths, said Alex Azar, the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services. Because of that, the Food and Drug Administration at the direction of President Trump is preparing to ban flavored e-cigarettes — at least temporarily.
E-cigarettes are battery-powered devices that vaporize a liquid nicotine solution, and they often are promoted as a safer alternative to cigarettes. Of course, drawing anything other than fresh air into your lungs will have consequences, and the drawbacks are becoming clearer with e-cigarettes. In addition, any method for ingesting nicotine has a negative health impact.
This is particularly important for teen users of vaping products. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 1.5 million more youth users of e-cigarettes in 2018 when compared with the previous year. Part of the reason, critics say, is that e-cigarette companies offer products with fruity flavors such as mango and creme. Azar said the FDA is finalizing a ban on non-tobacco-flavored vaping products within 30 days.
Washington took a step toward improved public health this year with a bill led by Rep. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver. House Bill 1074 increased the age for purchasing tobacco from 18 to 21 — and wisely included vaping products. With a long list of co-sponsors that included Southwest Washington Democrats Monica Stonier and Sharon Wylie — along with Democrat Annette Cleveland and Republican Ann Rivers in the Senate — the bill passed both chambers with healthy majorities.
Much research remains to be done on the recent spate of illnesses. But early investigations suggest that a Vitamin E acetate in the products has contributed to what health officials have called an “epidemic.” When heated and vaporized, the acetate is inhaled and then cools, coating the inside of the lungs with the oil. Questions remain about whether the illnesses are linked to vaping devices altered to deliver THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis, but for now caution is the proper approach.
Vaping could, indeed, be helpful in smoking cessation. If it proves to provide benefits for those who have unsuccessfully attempted other methods to halt cigarette use, the practice could have a place in the market.
But not enough is known, and manufacturers have been far too quick to claim that their products are safer than tobacco. FDA officials have warned the biggest vaping product company, Juul Labs, against making such claims in school presentations. Why a vaping company is invited to make a school presentation is a question for another time.
Meanwhile, Juul and other manufacturers claim they do not market their products to teens — despite the prevalence of flavors and eye-catching packaging. A crackdown from the federal government is appropriate until the cause of the deaths can be pinpointed and additional research is completed.
Adults should be cautious about using vaping products as it is difficult to see benefits other than as a gateway to stopping tobacco use altogether. And every effort should be made to dissuade teens from using the products. Washington lawmakers were wise to recognize the risks and take an important step in that direction.
