Research shows limited impact of ban on flavored e-cigarettes

On February 6, 2020, the United States Food and Drug Administration banned the sale of several flavors of electronic cigarettes, with some significant exceptions.

According to a survey published in the journal "Tobacco Control," out of 3500 adult users of electronic cigarettes who were surveyed, less than 5% of them stopped using electronic cigarettes due to the ban on flavored e-cigarettes. The remaining respondents switched to other types or flavors of electronic cigarettes or other tobacco products that were not covered by the ban.

More and more literature suggests that the flavorings in e-cigarettes can cause harm when inhaled, making a ban on these flavorings reasonable, according to tobacco research expert and Professor of Public Health Sciences and Community Center Deborah J. Ossip. "But bans don't seem to be effective. People, including young people, can still access flavored products and are still using them," she added. This statement was made at the University of Rochester Medical Center's Department of Public Health and Prevention.

According to Dongmei Li, the lead author of the study and associate professor of clinical and translational research, obstetrics and gynecology, and public health sciences, a significant part of the problem is that the ban does not cover newer products such as disposable e-cigarette pods and e-cigarette pods that use canisters instead of cartridges/boxes.

Other forms of flavored electronic cigarettes, particularly disposable ones, have become very popular after FDA policies were implemented," said Li. "The FDA's policies did not prohibit products with mint or tobacco flavors - our research indicates that many people switched to mint-flavored e-cigarettes after the ban. It seems that many people find menthol to be a favorable taste.

According to this study, nearly 30% of the survey respondents switched to canned or disposable flavored e-cigarettes, and another 30% switched to mint or tobacco flavored pods. Some reported turning to traditional tobacco products: 14% switched to combustible products like cigarettes, and 5% switched to smokeless products such as chewing or dipping tobacco. Less than 5% of respondents stopped using e-cigarettes after the FDA ban.

Researchers used statistical models to identify factors related to changes in e-cigarette usage behavior. They found a close correlation between using tank system e-cigarettes and switching to other flavors not regulated by the FDA's flavor law enforcement policies.

The use of mint-flavored electronic cigarettes over the past 30 days is associated with switching to mint-flavored electronic cigarettes. Those who reported smoking every day or every few days were more likely to switch to tobacco-flavored electronic cigarettes or combustible tobacco products.

On the other hand, people who use flavored electronic cigarettes without nicotine are more likely to quit smoking. Although the study was not intended to establish a causal relationship, the association supports previous research showing that reducing nicotine levels in cigarettes can help smokers quit. However, further research is needed to better understand the relationship between the use of low-nicotine electronic cigarettes and smoking cessation.

Looking towards the future, Li Dongmei believes that if this policy covers all flavors of electronic cigarettes (including mint and all types of electronic cigarettes) and actively monitors the implementation and compliance of the policy, then the policy may be effective. "Both are important in reducing the popularity of electronic cigarettes among young people in the United States," she said.

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