The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is stepping up its efforts to combat youth vaping with the unveiling on Monday of a new Youth Vaping Resource Guide. According to HHS, 1.6 million middle and high school students reported using e-cigarettes in 2024.
“Youth vaping is not a harmless trend,” said Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, acting chief of staff and senior advisor in the HHS’ Office of the Surgeon General. “It’s a serious threat to the health and development of our children.”
Haridopolos said the guide is a call to action for everyone, including families, schools, health professionals and communities. This is a way “to come together and protect our youth from the dangers of nicotine addiction and toxic exposure,” she said.
HHS said the Youth Vaping Resource Guide provides actionable steps for stakeholders, including retailers to strengthen enforcement, improve legislation, and work together to remove illegal vape products from the market.
“Up to 85% of e-cigarette devices and pods sold in U.S. retail outlets are illegal products,” HHS said in a statement. “Federal enforcement efforts have seized millions of unauthorized devices, but illegal sales persist, threatening the health of young people nationwide.”
On Wednesday, HHS and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced the seizure of 4.7 million units of mostly Chinese unauthorized e-cigarette products with an estimated retail value of $86.5 million. The seizure was part of a joint federal operation in Chicago to examine incoming shipments and prevent illegal e-cigarettes from entering the country. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary joined U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi at a press conference highlighting the seizure.
“The FDA and our federal partners are taking swift action to seize millions of illegal vapes at ports, distributors and retailers,” said Makary. “American kids should not be getting hooked on addictive vaping devices—especially ones that have been imported illegally from our adversaries.”
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