An important step to curb vaping

For years, the United States vaping market has been overwhelmed by products that directly market to children. Thankfully, the Iowa Legislature took an important step to curb youth vaping at the end of this year’s session. Senate File 2402/House File 2677, the vapor directory bill, would permit the sale of vaping products that have been approved by the FDA while barring the sale of any non-FDA-approved vape.

In my work as a school resource officer, I unfortunately seize multiple vapes a week. These vapes all share somethings in common: they haven’t been approved by the FDA for sale in the United States, and they are always fruity or candy-flavored. The CDC’s 2023 Youth Tobacco Study supports this. According to the study, the two most popular vaping products among teens are non-FDA approved, illegal vaping products which come in enticing flavors such as “Orange Pear Nectar” and “Berry Mix.”

In my work, I don’t seize tobacco flavored vapes, the only flavor approved for sale by the FDA. Students don’t enjoy the taste of tobacco, instead they opt for flashy and kid-friendly flavors. As of 2023, more than 2.1 million youth currently use vapes and 90% of those students use flavored e-cigarettes.

This bill has the potential to limit youth access to these products, thereby stunting youth addiction before it can begin, potentially saving them from a lifetime of potential negative health consequences.

While this bill will surely protect children, the vaping industry has come out in opposition because it would hurt their profit margins. This has been extremely disappointing to hear as someone who sees the prevalence of youth vaping on a daily basis. For far too long, vape retailers have been selling products that are illegal to be sold in the United States without any enforcement. Now, Iowa will be a leader in addressing the youth vaping crisis by enforcing the FDA’s approved vaping list.

By passing this bill, the Iowa Legislature showed it prioritizes the health of our future leaders by putting people over profits. I would especially like to thank Sen. Chris Cournoyer and Rep. Brent Siegrist for bringing this vital legislation forward.

The bill now awaits Gov. Kim Reynolds' signature. I urge our governor to sign this bill into law to keep our students healthy.

Jamey Fah is a deputy sheriff with the Scott County Sheriff’s Department and a school resource officer at Pleasant Valley High School.