E-CIGARETTES

E-cigarettes or vapes come in all shapes and sizes. [1]

E-cigarettes come in many shapes and sizes. Some look like regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Larger e-cigarettes such as tank systems – or “mods” – do not look like other tobacco products.
Some e-cigarettes look like other items commonly used by youth, such as pens and watches. New e-cigarettes shaped like USB flash drives are popular among youth, including JUUL and the PAX Era, which looks like JUUL and delivers marijuana.

E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that produce an inhaled aerosol. [2]

There is no way for users to know what types or concentrations of chemicals or how much nicotine they are inhaling.
E-cigarettes are defined as tobacco products by the FDA and Minnesota law.
Studies show e-cigarettes contain nicotine, heavy metals, formaldehyde, and other cancer causing agents.
No amount of nicotine is safe for youth. It is harmful to brain development.
E-cigarettes long-term impact on the health of users and bystanders is unknown.
Studies found that e-cigarettes pollute indoor air, and that exposure to aerosol can make people want to smoke cigarettes.

E-Cigarettes in Minnesota: [2,3]

The most recently released 2019 Minnesota Student Survey (MSS) shows that e-cigarette use continues to escalate among youth. Among 8th grade students, e-cigarette use nearly doubled from 2016 to 2019, and one in four 11th graders now use e-cigarettes.
Many students aren't aware of the dangers of e-cigarette use. The 2019 MSS also found that 76% of 11th graders say there is either no, slight, or a moderate risk to using e-cigarettes.
Exposure to ads is related to student e-cigarette use. According to the 2017 Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey (MYTS), 88% of Minnesota students are exposed to ads promoting e-cigarettes.
Almost 40% of high school students have tried e-cigarettes, which come in kid-friendly flavors like gummy bear and cotton candy (2017 MYTS).

How does Minnesota law treat e-cigarettes? [4]

E-cigarettes containing nicotine are taxed as tobacco products and it is illegal to sell e-cigarettes to minors.
Retailers must keep them behind the counter or in a locked case and obtain a tobacco license.
Child-resistant packaging is required on all e-cigarette liquids, and kiosk sales are prohibited.
As of August 1, 2019, e-cigarettes are prohibited from indoor areas where cigarette smoking is already banned throughout the state of Minnesota.
Beginning August 1, 2020, Minnesota will raise the legal sales age to purchase tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and vapes, from 18 to 21.

E-cigarettes are not proven to be better for quitting than existing programs. [2]

We need to better understand how e-cigarettes influence starting and quitting smoking.
Studies suggest some e-cigarettes may help people trying to quit.
- Research on e-cigarettes' potential as quitting aids should continue. Until more is known, smokers should use proven tools like Quit Partner Services.
- If you are a youth or working with youth interested in quitting, check out the following resources:
  - Minnesota's Quit Partner program, My Life, My Quit, for youth ages 13-17
  - Youth Tobacco Cessation Resources
  - https://teen.smokefree.gov/
  - www.thetruth.com

Talk With Your Teen About E-Cigarettes and other vaping devices.

Learn more about the risks of e-cigarettes for youth and access tips for talking to youth using resources under Talk Early, Talk Often as well as the the following resources below:

(Source: MN Department of Health)

(Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services)