FDA Takes Aim at Vaping Addiction with Synthetic Substance Crackdown

Strategic Insights -

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is pushing to make vaping less addictive by recommending the DEA classify a synthetic byproduct found in some vapes under the Controlled Substances Act. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary likened this product to an opioid, highlighting a growing concern about addiction among American youths. Makary warned that 85% of vaping products sold at local shops are illicit and contain substances banned in China. The issue has reached epidemic proportions, with one-quarter of high school students regularly using vaping products. The FDA's focus is on a synthetic concentrated byproduct of kratom, a South Asian tree, which has been linked to psychological and physiological dependence.

Key Takeaways:

  • 85% of vaping products sold at local vape shops are illicit and contain substances banned in China.
  • The substance 7-OH, a derivative of kratom, is being recommended to be classified as a controlled substance by the DEA.
  • 1.63 million (5.9%) US middle and high school students currently use e-cigarettes.
  • 87.6% of these students reported using flavoured e-cigarettes.
  • Disposable e-cigarettes are the most popular choice among US students, followed by prefilled or refillable pods and tank or mod systems.
  • Vapes are just as addictive as traditional cigarettes, with users getting even more nicotine due to extra-strength cartridges or increased voltage.
  • The FDA is not targeting kratom but rather a synthetic concentrated byproduct of the plant.

Statistics:

  • 1.63 million (5.9%) US middle and high school students currently use e-cigarettes (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
  • 410,000 (3.5%) middle school pupils and 1.21 million (7.8%) high school students use e-cigarettes (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
  • 87.6% of students reported using flavoured e-cigarettes (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
  • Disposable e-cigarettes are the most popular choice, used by 55.6% of students (Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).
  • Vaping is linked to nicotine addiction, with users getting even more nicotine from extra-strength cartridges or increased voltage.

Sources:

  • Newsmax: "FDA Commissioner Marty Makary on vaping epidemic"
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "E-Cigarette Use Among Middle and High School Students in 2024"
  • Johns Hopkins Medicine: "Vaping and Addiction"