On June 21, 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration The first e-cigarette product with a non-tobacco flavor In the United States.
of 4 New Licensed ProductsTwo are sealed, menthol-flavored nicotine liquid-filled pods that can be used with certain types of e-cigarettes, and the other two are disposable nicotine e-cigarettes, meaning that once the menthol liquid has been used, the device cannot be reused.
The Conversation spoke with health policy expert Jamie Hartman Boyce. Specializing in tobacco control and e-cigarette productsWe discuss the pros and cons of FDA approval and what it means for vulnerable populations.
What does the new announcement from the FDA mean?
E-cigarettes, also known as vapes, are handheld, battery-powered devices that heat a liquid to produce an inhalable vapor that may be flavored. Unlike traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco leaves. E-cigarettes may, but do not necessarily, contain nicotine.
Until June 21, the only nicotine e-cigarettes approved for sale in the United States were tobacco-flavored. Some groups, including tobacco industry advocates, have called this a “A de facto ban on flavors“
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines menthol as As a compound It is found naturally in peppermint and other similar plants.
This is the first time that the FDA has approved the sale of e-cigarettes with flavors other than tobacco. “Tobacco flavors” refers to a range of flavors designed to taste similar to traditional cigarettes.
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What are the potential hazards, such as danger to children?
Tobacco companies have historically added menthol to traditional cigarettes to More gentle and attractiveThe tobacco companies They aggressively marketed menthol cigarettes to black people..
In 2022, the F.D.A. Proposed a ban About menthol cigarettes The proposal was based on the appeal to many people, including young people, and the possibility that such a ban could improve health and prevent deaths. But the proposal has stalled.
Studies have shown that non-tobacco flavored e-liquids are more appealing than tobacco flavors, including to young people.
The FDA previously Menthol e-cigarette application rejected“Sufficient scientific evidence has not been presented to demonstrate that the potential benefits to adult smokers outweigh the risks of youth smoking initiation and use,” the petition said.
How are e-cigarettes regulated in the United States?
In the United States, nicotine-containing e-cigarettes are FDA’s Center for Tobacco ProductsTo legally sell their products in the United States, e-cigarette manufacturers must apply for marketing authorization from the FDA.
The FDA evaluates these applications based on scientific evidence submitted by manufacturers. To be approved, an application must demonstrate that allowing the product to be marketed is appropriate for the protection of the public health.
This is because the FDA is not reviewing the potential benefits of a product, in other words Ability to help adults quit smoking – Outweigh the risks. Appealing to young peopleAlthough not without risks, e-cigarettes Much less harmful than smokingThis is because adults who switch from smoking to e-cigarettes Could benefit from improvements Be healthy.
Aren’t flavored e-cigarettes already available in the US?
Prior to this new announcement, only tobacco e-liquids were allowed to be sold, yet many Americans Reports on the use of flavored e-liquidsSweet, fruit, mint and menthol flavours are the most popular.
This is partly Many e-cigarette products are sold in the United States. They have not been approved for marketing or sale. Illegal ProductsAdditionally, some products currently on the market are still undergoing review by the FDA.
Many of the harms caused by e-cigarettes are e.g. Severe E-Cigarette-Related Lung Injury These diseases, which were widely reported in 2019 and 2020, Illegal Products and Harmful Chemicals Some contain ingredients that are not found in FDA approved products.
In early June, the Department of Justice and the FDA Federal Multi-Agency Task Force To curb the distribution and sale of illegal e-cigarettes, the United States Sleek, colorful and powerful e-cigarettes are everywhere Made in China.
What are the potential health effects?
The best available studies are not presented Is there a clear difference between menthol and tobacco-flavored e-liquids? In terms of direct health risks to users.
As mentioned above, research suggests that non-tobacco-flavored e-liquids are more appealing than tobacco-flavored ones, at least among some groups, which may mean that non-smoking youth are at increased risk of starting to vape.
But it could also encourage smokers to switch to e-cigarettes. Less risky than smokingQuitting smoking can also improve the health of others. Passive smoking.
Smoking causes death Half of regular users It is the leading cause of preventable deaths In the United States and World wideTherefore, alternative measures that increase the chances of success in quitting smoking could have significant health benefits.
To grant approval for the four newly approved products, the FDA had to review a vast amount of documentation and studies showing that the benefits of the new products outweigh the risks.
Jamie Hartman BoyceAssistant Professor of Health Promotion Policy, University of Massachusetts Amherst University of Massachusetts Amherst
This article is reprinted from conversation Published under a Creative Commons license. Original Article.
