E-cigarettes have grown immensely in popularity over the past few years, even for minors.
A recent study performed by the Center for Disease Control found that e-cigarette use has tripled among middle and high school students. For the first time, e-cigarettes have bypassed conventional cigarettes as the most used tobacco product.
“We want parents to know that nicotine is dangerous for kids at any age, whether it’s an e-cigarette, hookah, cigarette or cigar,” said CDC Director Tom Frieden. “Adolescence is a critical time for brain development. Nicotine exposure at a young age may cause lasting harm to brain development, promote addiction and lead to sustained tobacco use.”
High school student use rose from 660,000 to 2 million and middle school students rose from 120,000 to 450,000.
The study also discovered hookah use among this same age group.
In response, Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley voiced a desire for the Food and Drug Administration to address this emerging issue.
“It’s long past time to act. The FDA needs to directly take on these products that are designed to ensnare children, like candy and fruit flavored e-cigarettes, and get these rules done once and for all,” Merkley said.
Paula Staight, the director of health promotion for the University of Oregon Health Center, said that while she would need to clarify with the nurses if they have seen more e-cigarette use with UO students, they are working on a new question to pose to students to gauge this use.
The UO has been a smoke and tobacco free campus since 2012. Therefore, even electronic cigarette use is not allowed on campus.
In August of 2012, former Oregon governor John Kitzhaber signed the Tobacco-Free Campus Executive order. This order bans the use of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, on state agency grounds or in state agency buildings.
On May 14, the Oregon House passed House Bill 2546, by a total of 56 votes yes, with two against and two abstaining.
This bill amends laws regarding the sale to and use of tobacco products by minors to include vape pens and e-cigarettes as part of the Oregon Clean Air Act, designed to address secondhand smoke.
The bill was originally sponsored by five state representatives, including Phil Barnhart, representative for the Springfield area.
Despite this, federally there are currently no regulations for the use of e-cigarettes.