Statement from Julie Bisbee, TSET executive director, on today’s FDA decision to ban Juul products from the U.S. marketplace.
“Today’s action by the Food and Drug Administration is a step forward that will help protect our children from a lifetime of addiction to nicotine. More than a quarter of high school students in Oklahoma and across the U.S. report vaping in the last 30 days, and Juul has long been one of the most popular vaping devices among teens. Today, the FDA ruled that Juul’s harm to youth outweighed any benefit to adult tobacco users.
“It’s encouraging to see the FDA weighing the evidence and making data-driven decisions to bring safeguards to a previously unregulated industry that threatens the health of current and future generations of Americans. In Oklahoma, lawmakers can contribute to this effort by licensing vaping retailers and taxing vaping products at a level on par with other tobacco products.
“Big Tobacco uses vaping and other emerging nicotine products to hook new users, often targeting youth with flavored products and colorful advertising. It’s the same playbook the tobacco industry has used for decades, and it’s important for policy makers to act today to ensure a healthy tomorrow for our children.
“The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline has resources and support for Oklahomans who want to quit vaping or tobacco use. Visit OKhelpline.com for more information. For youth who are addicted to nicotine, My Life, My Quit is a text-based service specifically geared to those ages 13–17. Visit MyLifeMyQuit.org to learn more.”