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HOUSTON (FOX 26) - The trend of teenagers using e-cigarettes continue to alarm health officials. As part of ongoing efforts to protect youth from the dangers of nicotine and tobacco products, today the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued 13 warning letters to manufacturers, distributors, and retailers for selling e-liquids used in e-cigarettes with labeling and/or advertising that cause them to resemble kid-friendly food products, such as juice boxes, candy or cookies, some of them with cartoon-like imagery. Several of the companies receiving warning letters were also cited for illegally selling the products to minors.
"Any drug that shows up on the market, there's also kind of an initial coolness factor," said Dr. Jin Yoon, Assistant Professor with UT Health. "You know kids are experimental generally so they will latch on to something like that."
Studies show more kids are turning to e-cigarettes, offsetting the overall decline in tobacco use.
"There's like a buzz but I mean it goes away in like 20 seconds, it's not really anything," said one Lamar high schooler who claims to occasionally vape.
"I will say, it's better than smoking cigarettes," said another high schooler.
But the concern is that vaping is becoming a gateway drug to a lifelong addiction.
"If the drug goes down smooth like an e-cigarette that's flavored and all candy-like, you know, eventually maybe tobacco cigarettes are cheaper and give you a stronger hit," said Dr. Yoon. "That's where they move on. There's an elevation there."
This use by children and teens is especially concerning to the FDA because of evidence that youth exposure to nicotine affects the developing brain and may rewire it to be more susceptible to nicotine addiction in the future.
In April, the FDA announced a nationwide blitz of brick-and-mortar and online retailers, and issued warning letters to businesses that sold JUUL brand products to minors. The agency also sent a letter to JUUL Labs requiring the company to submit important documents to better understand the reportedly high rates of youth use and the particular youth appeal of these products.
The agency has also expanded “The Real Cost” public education campaign with messages focused on preventing youth use of e-cigarettes and a full-scale campaign is planned for a September launch.