American Academy of Pediatrics Richmond Center (information for pediatricians about e-cigarettes)
Report Safety Issues with Electronic Cigarettes
If you or someone you know has had a safety issue with an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette or vape), please report the problem to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at the FDA Safety Reporting Portal (hhs.gov).
Growing Number of North Carolina Teens at Risk of Addiction to Nicotine, Study Finds
Infographic for Teachers and Parents: Is that a USB Stick or an E-cigarette (Juul)? (PDF, 1.2 MB, JPG, 1 MB)
E-cigarettes are a class of tobacco products which are battery-powered devices that provide doses of nicotine and other additives to the user in an aerosol, often referred to as vapor. There are many types of these products available in the United States, including e-cigarettes, e-hookahs, hookah pens, vape pens, mods, e-cigars and others. Some are disposable, single-use varieties, while others can be refilled and/or recharged for repeated use. The most recent generation uses pre-filled pods that can be snapped into the device.
Nicotine is highly addictive, and poses health risks, particularly for young people. Pregnant women can transfer nicotine to their developing fetus; nicotine is toxic to the developing baby. Evidence also suggests that nicotine exposure during adolescence may have harm brain development of young people, potentially up to age 25.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the authority to regulate the marketing, sale and manufacture of e-cigarettes (and other tobacco products). In January 2020 the FDA issued a new rule banning the sale of e-cigarette nicotine cartridges or pods that come in flavors besides tobacco and menthol beginning Feb 1, 2020. To follow other federal actions, visit the FDA website.
While new studies continue to come in about e-cigarettes, questions remain about their safety. Some studies have shown potentially harmful ingredients and other concerns. So far, studies on the safety and health impact of these products and their use as a tobacco cessation aid, have had mixed results.
The use of e-cigarettes by North Carolina high school students increased 894 percent from 2011 to 2017, and similar patterns are seen nationally and in other states. There is also concern that secondhand exposure to the secondhand aerosol (vapor) from electronic cigarettes may pose a health hazard to others (PDF, 272 KB).
Effective December 1, 2015, NC law prohibits the sale of e-liquid containers without child-resistant packaging and requires a label for any e-liquid container that contains nicotine. The law creates a new Class A1 misdemeanor for a violation. Also, any person, firm, or corporation that violates the provisions of this law shall be liable in damages to any person injured as a result of the violation. See a copy of the law.
Updated: 07-17-2024
