VAPING IS A YOUTH EPIDEMIC

“We must take action now to protect the health of our nation’s young people.”

— U.S. Surgeon General

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78%

E-cig usage by high school students increased 78% between 2017-2018.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

1 in 4 high school students
have used a tobacco product

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

4 out of 5 kids who have used tobacco started with a flavored product

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

Kids report vaping

as early as 12 years old

NBC

NICOTINE = BRAIN POISON

Flavors mask the harsh taste of tobacco which makes it easier for kids to smoke — and most kids don’t know that flavored e-cigarettes are high in nicotine.

Flavors

The tobacco industry is hooking the next generation of addicts, and flavors are a big way in. Four out of five kids who have used tobacco started with a flavored product.

Those numbers suggest that most underaged users might never have tried vaping if tobacco tasted like tobacco. From Juul’s popular mango to thousands of options available for Suorin and other open systems, flavors hook kids on a drug known to be as addictive as heroin.

Read more

Nicotine

The rise in teen vaping is finally news. But we need to know more about kids’ consumption of nicotine, such as how high the doses, and how great the risks.

Modern devices can have up to 6x the nicotine concentration of first generation e-cigs, putting kids at risk of not only a nicotine addiction, but substance addiction of all kinds.

Read more

Poison

Nicotine is one of the most toxic of all poisons. It can rewire the brain, particularly vulnerable in the developing years, from adolescence to mid-twenties. In what ways?

Nicotine changes the teen brain and affects attention, learning, and memory. It can worsen stressors already challenging in adolescence:

 

  • Impulsivity
  • Learning difficulties
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety
  • Mood swings

 

But unlike other adolescent phases, changes to the brain from nicotine can be permanent.

Read more

HOW TO IDENTIFY FLAVORED PRODUCTS

Know what to look for. Nicotine products have become almost unrecognizable. Familiarize yourself with the drug’s new delivery systems. You can’t stop it if you can’t spot it.

Juul

Juul

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Juul

Took 70% of the e-cig market in 3 years.

Known as the iPhone of e-cigs.

Teens 16x more likely to Juul than older groups.

Pods come in 8 flavors.

Juul pods

Juul pod

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Juul pods

The 5% pod may contain the nicotine of 20 cigarettes.

Not produced in nicotine-free flavors.

Delivers nicotine up to 2.7x faster than other e-cigs

Closed system, (replaceable pre-filled pods).

Suorin

Less identifiable than Juul.

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Suorin

Less identifiable than Juul.

Known for its cheap price.

Open system, (refillable with any e-juice).

Thousands of flavors available.

Bo

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Bo

Caps are twice the volume of Juul pods with similar nicotine concentration.

Uses nicotine salt that delivers high amounts of nicotine while masking the harsh hit.

Closed system, (replaceable pre-filled caps).

Phix

Phix

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Phix

Copycat Juul design, but larger due to increased battery.

Pod is over double the capacity of Juul.

Closed system, (replaceable pre-filled pods).

Comes in 5 flavors.

BlowSauce

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BlowSauce

Nic salts deliver high nicotine concentrations without the harsh hit.

Used in open system devices like Suorin and Kandypen.

Taste, smell, and package design likely to appeal to kids.

Candy King

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Candy King

Nic salts deliver high nicotine concentrations without the harsh hit.

Used in open system devices like Suorin and Kandypen.

Taste, smell, and package design likely to appeal to kids.

Kandypen

Learn more

Kandypen

Small and sleek design, easily concealed

Used for both nicotine and CBD/THC products.

Open system, (refillable with any e-juice).

Thousands of flavors available.

Know The Signs

  • Are there sweet or fruity smells coming from behind closed doors? That might actually be nicotine hiding in vape flavors.
  • Are there school supplies or tech products you don’t recognize in kids’ backpacks or rooms? How about small vials or eye dropper bottles?
  • Have you come across unfamiliar chargers, coils, or batteries?
  • Have there been changes in your kids’ behavior such as increased mood swings, irritability, anxiety, or impulsivity?
  • Are your kids suffering from more frequent headaches or nausea?

While California State Law prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 21, kids still manage to get it.

Here are six common ways:

  • Vape products are all over social media, and many promote the sale of their products right from their accounts.
  • Website age gates are easily bypassed, and kids use a parent’s name for shipping. In fact, kids successfully buy e-cigs online 94% of the time.*
  • Clerks at tobacco shops, vape stores, gas stations and convenience stores might not enforce the California Tobacco 21 law, which prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 21 years of age.  
  • Many vape companies have names that wouldn’t raise a red flag on parents’ credit card statements.
  • Online orders can be delivered to Amazon lockers in supermarkets or convenience stores.
  • Orders can also be shipped to the homes where parent(s) are at work when the mail comes.
  • Kids are buying and selling pods, and even single hits, in schools.

START THE CONVERSATION

Here's what Californians are saying about the vaping epidemic.

“

One of the biggest problems with vaping is how paranoid and easily irritated I am, as I’m always watching my back to make sure I don't get caught. ”

— Student, 15, Mono County

“

As usual, my kid knew more about the subject than I did, but I was ready. The conversation starters helped make this important talk not just another lecture. ”

— Jennifer, San Francisco

“

Kids can control that amount of vapor being released so it’s not as easy to see when they are vaping as people think it is. They can, and do, hide them anywhere – bras, makeup, underwear, feminine hygiene products, pockets – and we can’t search students so that’s a real challenge. ”

— Principal, California Middle School

“

I think that when students think about nicotine, they know it’s not good but feel like e-cigs don’t have much [nicotine], so it’s not a problem. They hear commercials about people using Juul to stop smoking and they think Juul is better than a cigarette. ”

— Superintendent, California Middle School

“

Kids will use any e-cigarette they can get their hands on easily. They are buying credit card type gift cards then using those to purchase the devices online. We’ve seen every shape, size and brand come through our office. ”

— Vice Principal, California Middle School

“

I can’t believe tobacco flavored products look exactly like the candy my children eat. ”

— Parent, San Bruno

“

I am very aware of flavored tobacco products and the sad thing is, so is my son. He could probably tell you more about products as a 10-year-old than most adults. ”

— Parent, Merced County

“

I am hearing about an increase of student’s vaping at school and increase suspension related to vaping. Students are asked if they want to join vaping. It’s a real concern. ”

— Parent, East Palo Alto

THE GUIDE

Steps to end the youth epidemic

  • How to talk to kids

  • What to do if your teen is addicted

  • How to get schools on board

  • Ten quick facts about nicotine and adolescence

  • Activities to do with teens

Download the Guide
guide-preview

Voice Your Concern

Send an email, make a difference.

Reaching out to your mayor can create change. Enter your name, choose your city, and we’ll connect you to the right email to make sure your letter makes the most impact.

I'm Living in

Dear Mayor

I’m writing because I am concerned about the tobacco industry’s use of flavors to hook kids on nicotine. As you may already know, tobacco companies don’t stop at flavors. They also use tech-inspired devices and kid-friendly packaging to lure kids into vaping nicotine. This, coupled with unchecked online purchasing, gets harmful tobacco products past parents and teachers and straight into the hands of kids.

The tobacco industry’s use of flavors as a stealthy nicotine delivery method is very strategic, as it targets the age group most susceptible to addiction. The youth in our area face enough challenges in this time of their development. We should be setting them up for success, not saddling them with addiction that could torment them all their lives and spread well beyond nicotine. They deserve better.

I ask for your leadership in addressing how we can keep our kids safe from an industry determined to do them harm.

Thank you for your leadership in the fight to keep our kids safe from tobacco industry targeting. I’m so grateful that our city has banned flavored tobacco products, and is helping to keep kids safe from the neurological risks of nicotine.

But underage vaping continues to grow and marketing of these products to youth remains unregulated. I hope more people will work toward reversing the rise in teen vaping, and give California kids the chance to live out their childhoods nicotine-free.

Sincerely,

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Learn More

Watch our complete video playlist on YouTube or click the articles below for more info. 

Identify which Products Teens are Vaping

View article

Identify which Products Teens are Vaping

Nicotine: The Unknown Poison

View article

Nicotine: The Unknown Poison

Truth Initiative Quitting Resource

View site

Truth Initiative Quitting Resource

Find a tobacco control program

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