Opinion: It’s time to get serious about illegal flavored vapes

To reduce youth nicotine use, a Wisconsin oncologist calls on the Food and Drug Administration to ban flavored vapes—many of them coming from China.

The rise of illegal, flavored disposable vapes flooding into the US market, the lion’s share coming from China, is a public health crisis that requires urgent action from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As an oncologist who has seen the devastating impact of nicotine addiction, especially on our youth, I am calling on the FDA to intensify its regulatory efforts to curb the sale of these dangerous products.

Flavored disposable vapes are intentionally designed to appeal to children. Eye-catching packaging, fruity flavors, and endorsements from social media influencers make these products alluring to minors. More alarming is that these vapes are stronger, larger, and cheaper than their regulated counterparts, making them more accessible and potent. This deadly combination is pulling our vulnerable youth into a cycle of nicotine addiction that is difficult to break.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlight the severity of this issue. Between 2019 and 2021, disposable vape use skyrocketed—by 1,000% among high school students and 400% among middle school students. While the number of youth using vapes in 2024 has decreased to about one-third of what it was at its peak, 1.6 million middle and high school students still report current use. Even more troubling, 42% of high schoolers who vape report using these products frequently or daily, underscoring the addictive nature of these devices.

Flavors are one of the main reasons young people start vaping. Studies from the CDC show that 88% of teens who vape use flavored products, with fruit and candy being the two most popular flavor choices among the teens surveyed. Nearly two-thirds of youth say they would stop vaping if sweet flavors were no longer available, according to research by Ohio State University. The appeal of flavors cannot be overstated—it is a primary gateway to nicotine addiction which can pose serious health risks for young users. 

Nicotine addiction has been linked to respiratory problems, impaired brain development, and increased vulnerability to other forms of substance abuse. Long-term effects, while still being studied, show clear dangers to the cardiovascular system and lungs. The new generation of e-cigarettes is more efficient at delivering large amounts of nicotine to the brain, especially in youth and young adults. These products, sold in the U.S., often contain far more nicotine than those available in other countries, increasing the risk of addiction and its associated harms.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) warns that without immediate action, the long-term health consequences of e-cigarette use will only escalate. Vaping is already leading to a generation of nicotine-dependent youth. The FDA, which regulates nicotine-containing e-cigarettes as tobacco products, has the authority to take decisive action against the illegal, flavored disposable vapes that are proliferating from China. However, enforcement has not kept pace with the surge in these dangerous products entering our country.

The next president must prioritize pushing the FDA to safeguard our youth from the harms of nicotine addiction. The status quo will not suffice. The FDA must act now to crack down on the sale of illegal, flavored vapes and protect the health of future generations.