In Colorado, we have made progress in educating youth about the dangers of vaping. The percent of Colorado teens who think vaping is risky rose 23% between 2017 and 2019,2 which is great news!
One in four Colorado youth vape2 and face a potential lifetime of tobacco addiction. And flavored vape products that appeal to teens pose an ongoing threat. In fact, in 2019, young people list flavors as one of the top reasons for vaping themselves.
You can make a difference. Over half of young people who currently vape are trying to quit2 and need our support. Use the information on this site to get the facts about vaping and talk about it with the teens in your life.
That’s why we at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment have put together resources especially for you. They’re designed to help you understand the ins and outs of vaping and then confidently talk with teens about it.
and create new products to attract young people and hook a new generation of tobacco consumers.
Stay in the know by learning more about vaping and some of the most common e-cigarette devices on the market.
Flavored vape products have fueled the youth vaping epidemic, hooking teens and keeping them addicted. Recent laws have limited the sale of some flavored products, but the threat remains.
More than four in five youth who vape use flavored products, which are appealing to teens who wouldn’t use tobacco otherwise.3
2019 data show 63.9% of high schoolers who vape used mint and menthol flavors.8 Because the FDA policy does not prohibit menthol-flavored pod-based vapes, like Juul, youth can still easily access these products.
To create flavors, vape manufacturers mix chemicals that are harmful when inhaled, regardless of the presence of nicotine.9 These chemicals can damage:
Talk to the kids in your life about these risks, and be open to their questions about vaping. Click here for a guide about how to talk to youth about vaping.
Laws have passed in recent years to limit the sale of vape products to young people. However, more work is needed to ban kid-friendly flavors and protect youth.
National: In February 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) passed a policy prohibiting some flavored, cartridge-based vape products.6 However, this policy does not ban menthol- or tobacco-flavored products or disposable and open vape systems that come in other flavors. That means a wide variety of products are still on the market and accessible to youth.3
State: There is no statewide law limiting the sale of flavored tobacco products.
Local: Some Colorado communities have enacted local restrictions on flavored tobacco products to curb youth use. These policy changes show progress, but more is needed to curb youth use and prevent long-term addiction.
Disposable, single-use devices that are small enough to fit in a pocket.
Unlike Juul, these devices cannot be reused and are thrown away once the vapor runs out. They come in kid-friendly flavors and blends, such as O.M.G. (orange, mango, guava), iced apple mango, and mint. Like Juul, the amount of nicotine in brands like Puff Bar and Mojo can be equal to one whole pack of cigarettes.7
Vape systems that use cartridges or pods of e-liquids. Once the vapor runs out of each pod, it is thrown away and replaced. Menthol and tobacco varieties of these pod- or cartridge-based vapes are still allowed under the recent federal flavor ban.
Refillable, “open” vape systems that allow users to build and refill vape devices. These products are popular among youth and have no restrictions on flavors.4 Some use refillable tanks, and others use refillable pods.
Bottles of e-liquid in varying nicotine strengths are used in refillable vape products. They come in flavors like vanilla, bubblegum, cotton candy, and s’mores. There are 15,000+ flavored e-liquids on the market.8
As a parent or trusted adult, you have an opportunity to educate the young people in your life about vaping so they can make healthy decisions. These videos for parents and askable adults can help you start a conversation.
My Life, My Quit is available to kids as young as 12 who need support to quit cigarettes, vaping, chew, or other tobacco products. Text-based support and specialists provide free and accessible quit resources for youth. See more tips in the TobaccoFreeCO Youth Cessation Resource Guide.
Be a part of community solutions to prevent tobacco use. Learn more here to find your next step.
They’re learning about the issue. They’re having productive conversations with teens. Watch this video series to get ideas and start conversations with the young people in your life.
Smoke-Free Teen, a website from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, also provides free quit support for youth, including texting services, a mobile app, trained coaches, and healthy tips to handle stress and social pressure.
Visit Smokefree TeenIn light of the high rates of youth vaping, the Colorado QuitLine’s web, text and phone programs are now available to those as young as 12. New web features and tobacco treatment specialists make quit support free and accessible for youth.
Access the Colorado QuitLine