U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin said on May 29 that recent actions by the Food and Drug Administration could lead to increased youth addiction to e-cigarettes. Durbin spoke at a news conference in Chicago alongside Dr. Deanna Behrens of Advocate Health Care, Dr. Marcus Belin from the National Association of Secondary School Principals, and Rob Anderson, CEO of the Respiratory Health Association.
“When I was 14 years old, I lost my father to lung cancer at the age of 53,” said Durbin. “This experience shaped me, and I have made it a priority during my time in Congress to champion policies that spare others from what my family went through. Today, with fewer and fewer children picking up cigarettes, Big Tobacco created a new, flashy, kid-friendly product that they billed as safer: the e-cigarette. How better to addict children to this new nicotine device than adding fruit and candy flavors to it like gummy bear, whipped cream, and razzle-berry. Unfortunately, it worked as millions of children are now vaping and more than 90 percent of them are doing so because of the sweet flavors. If we do not reverse course quickly, the devastating fallout will be felt by our children for decades to come, and we simply cannot let that happen.”
Anderson said, “Respiratory Health Association is deeply concerned about the threat vaping poses to children. To be clear, there is no safe amount of nicotine at any level. Flavored e-cigarettes are deliberately designed and marketed to appeal to youth, opening the door to a new generation of lung disease.”
Dr. Behrens said, “The reality is simple—no tobacco or nicotine products are safe for young people… The American Academy of Pediatrics opposes all flavored tobacco and nicotine products… If you are a teen or parent with questions about e-cigarettes, please talk to your pediatrician.” Dr. Belin added, “The youth vaping epidemic continues to be exacerbated by a lack of consistent oversight… This is no longer just a school issue.”
Durbin outlined recent developments including an FDA decision earlier in May authorizing fruit-flavored vapes such as mango and blueberry for sale after meetings between industry executives and Trump administration officials; he also referenced an FDA policy change announced on May 8 allowing manufacturers temporary sales without prior authorization if they had submitted applications for review.
Several studies were cited regarding health risks associated with vaping substances found in e-cigarette aerosols—including heavy metals—and research linking nicotine product use with cellular changes tied to cancer development.
According to Durbin’s official website, he has represented Illinois in the U.S. Senate while serving as Senate Democratic Whip; his work has included advocacy on health issues such as childhood asthma programs along with supporting constituents’ federal agency needs.
