As the psychosocial phenomenon of "vaping" is on the rise among demographics across the board, Trump has stated that a ban will be placed on all flavored e-cigarettes. This move comes in light of the increasing incidence of lung-related diseases and illnesses that have risen at an uncanny level.
"We can't allow people to get sick. And we can't have our kids be so affected," said the President.
The health and human services secretary, Alex M. Azar II, has said that the FDA will come forth with a full plan within the next few weeks to completely prohibit the sale of flavored e-cigarette and nicotine pods, save for only the classic tobacco flavor.
The issue is that Trump may be conflating two very real but separate epidemics: marijuana-related vaping that has skyrocketed among teens and is leaving a trail of very concerned parents and municipal governments, and e-cigarette use such as Juul that is widely utilized by working adults and parents as well.
Politico stated: "His comments conveniently merged the alarming growth in teen vaping with the outbreak of lung disease that states officials have mostly linked to vaping products that contain THC, the main psychoactive component of marijuana. The administration took one crisis and used it to stamp on another that had steadily captured Washington's attention."
This "outbreak" entails reports of almost 500 vaping-related cases that may have led to around 6 deaths so far. However, given that e-cigarettes is a hot-button issue that is in the limelight lately because of its notable popularity among teens, it seems as though the Trump administration is using the situation to make it appear as though action is being taken.
Moreover, the ban itself may have adverse effects on existing adult smokers, who are already addicted to nicotine and may now resort to full-on cigarette use after having no alternative.
"A lot of ex-smokers will go back to smoking," said Dr. Michael Siegel, a professor and tobacco control expert at Boston University. "They're addicted to nicotine. If their products are taken off the shelf, most won't be able to quit cold turkey. There will be no way for them to get their products, so they'll go back to smoking," he added.
There is also another issue: illicit e-cigarettes on the black market that contain THC and are also causing unknown adverse health effects. The ban may simply amplify the effect on parallel markets and cause more illegitimate, unsafe products to be sold on the back burner.
Overall, there may be potential to productively use a flavor ban to stop usage among teens, but the ban could have negative externalities for older populations that are already addicted to nicotine in a more consistent manner.