Schools in the Washington, D.C. area are stepping up efforts to curb youth vaping by installing vape detectors, joining a national drive to limit access to tobacco and nicotine products among teens. The FDA has been cracking down on flavoured e-cigarettes, which are seen as targeting young people, while local bans on flavoured tobacco sales and restrictions near schools reinforce these measures.

Montgomery County in Maryland is investing $2 million to fit vape detectors in high school bathrooms, with similar installations underway in Prince George’s County and Alexandria City schools. Settlement funds from e-cigarette maker Juul are also being used for addiction prevention initiatives.

Youth e-cigarette use has dropped, with 1.6 million U.S. middle and high schoolers using them this year, down from 2.1 million in 2023, a decline attributed to enforcement efforts. Also according to federal officials, youth e-cigarette use has declined nearly 70 percent since its peak in 2019, marking significant progress in combating nicotine addiction. See more

The increasing use of discreet nicotine pouches is becoming a bigger concern, showing that more needs to be done to stop young people from getting addicted.

Source: Axios