2. Explain the documented health risks of youth vaping, including nicotine's effects on adolescent brain development, mental health impacts, and long-term chronic disease risks.
3. Identify key components of the Youth Vaping Resource Guide and how different stakeholder groups can implement recommended interventions in their respective settings.
4. Analyze the scope of the youth vaping epidemic, including current usage statistics, the prevalence of illegal products in retail markets, and targeted marketing tactics used by manufacturers.
5. Apply evidence-based approaches for screening, counseling, and supporting youth cessation efforts, including available resources such as text-based quit programs and national helplines.
This panel presentation examines the comprehensive federal approach to addressing the ongoing youth vaping epidemic, which affects over 1.6 million middle and high school students despite recent usage declines. The presentation will explore three critical components of the federal response strategy. First, participants will learn about enforcement efforts led by FDA and federal partners, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to combat the influx of illegal e-cigarette products. With up to 85% of e-cigarette devices sold in U.S. retail outlets being unauthorized, federal agencies have intensified operations, recently seizing 4.7 million units of mostly Chinese unauthorized products valued at $86.5 million in a joint Chicago operation. Second, the presentation will detail the documented health effects of youth vaping, including nicotine's impact on brain development, mental health consequences such as worsened anxiety and depression, blood vessel damage, and increased chronic disease risk. The discussion will address how aggressive youth-targeted marketing through bright colors, appealing flavors, and gamification features has fueled the rise of illicit products. Third, participants will examine the combined agency efforts across HHS, including the U.S. Public Health Service’s Smoking and Tobacco Use Advisory Committee's (USPHS STUAC’s) community-based initiatives, particularly the newly released Youth Vaping Resource Guide. This comprehensive resource provides actionable steps for parents, educators, healthcare providers, researchers, and regulators to protect young people from e-cigarette harms. The presentation aligns with President Trump's MAHA Commission Strategy Report recommendations for increased FDA enforcement and public awareness campaigns to prevent vaping products from targeting children.