Electronic Nicotine Devices and E-Cigarettes

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are battery powered devices that heat a liquid solution, containing nicotine and/or other additives, to produce an aerosol that is inhaled by the user.  These products include electronic-cigarettes, electronic-hookahs, vape pens, and electronic-cigars.  ENDS are relatively new products, first appearing in the U.S. in 2007.

ENDS typically contain nicotine derived from tobacco and therefore are classified as tobacco products under proposed FDA regulations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has classified ENDS as a tobacco product in traditional surveillance as well.  ENDS contain other cancer-causing agents including metals such as lead, chromium, nickel and lithium, according to peer-reviewed studies.

Youth experimentation and use of ENDS has risen sharply within the last decade (King et al, 2014; SGR50), a significant concern due to the potential adverse affects of nicotine on adolescent brain development (Grana et al, 2014) and long term nicotine addiction.  Increasing use of ENDS and nicotine addition also undermines recent drops in youth cigarette smoking rates (Arrazola, 2015).

E-cigarettes and other ENDS are not yet regulated by the federal government in terms of manufacturing, product standards, and marketing.  In April 2014, the FDA proposed a rule deeming ENDS as tobacco products that would allow the FDA to regulate them.  Many tribes, states, and localities have proactively regulated e-cigarettes and other ENDS, including prohibitions on sales to minors, indoor air, and commercial tobacco smoke free policies. However, youth can readily access ENDS in many communities across Indian Country - stronger youth access laws and protections are needed to close this gap.

This is especially concerning because e-cigarette manufacturers use marketing that appeals to kids. Increasing rates of youth e-cigarette use comes as e-cigarette makers marketing their products with the same tactics used long ago to market regular cigarettes to kids, including celebrity endorsements, slick TV, magazine, and internet ads, and sponsorships of race cars and concerts.

In addition, many e-cigarette cartridges come in sweet, colorful flavors such as gummy bear and cotton candy, which helps explain both their appeal to youth and the increase in nicotine poisoning incidents.

The use of nicotine liquids presents yet another human health hazard. In 2014, there were 3,831 calls to poison control centers involving exposures to e-cigarette devices and nicotine liquids, more than double the 1,543 calls in 2013 and more than 13 times the 271 calls in 2011, according to the American Association of Poison Control Centers.

In December, 2014 a one-year-old boy died in New York from swallowing liquid nicotine. Child-resistant packaging for nicotine liquids is not currently required.

E-Cigarette Usage among Native American Youth

The recent introduction of e-cigarettes means that there is limited information on their usage, especially among Native Americans. E-cigarette monitoring and research will be an area of increased importance going forward. It is important for health practitioners to consider including language specific to e-cigarette usage when talking to clients.

The data from the CDC’s 2013 National Youth Tobacco Survey shows that 10.38% of the respondents from grades 6-12 who identified as Native American had ever tried e-cigarettes and 4.37% had used e-cigarettes within the past 30 days.

E-cigarette use (within the past 30 days) among all races of high school students tripled between 2011 and 2013 (from 1.5% to 4.5% who reported using e-cigarettes in the past 30 days).

The 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey found that for the first time, e-cigarette use exceeded cigarette use among students in all three grades surveyed (8th, 10th and 12th), with more than twice as many 8th and 10th graders reporting using e-cigarettes compared to regular cigarettes (Arrazola et al 2015).

The Data:

  • Among 8th graders, 8.7% e-cigarette v. 4% traditional cigarette use in past month.
  • Among 10th graders, 16.2% e-cigarette v. 7.2% traditional cigarette use.
  • Among 12th graders, 17.1% e-cigarette v. 13.6% traditional cigarette use.

e-cigarette example photo
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Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe Stop Vaping Campaign

The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe has developed a pair of public service announcements featuring Ojibwe youth and their reasons for not vaping or using commercial tobacco products. Alexis and Zhaawan who explain how they don't want to harm their lungs, healthy, and opportunities in athletics with vaping and smoking.  See their stories below.

 

Alexis's Story

 

Zhaawan's Story

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Parents Against Vaping E-Cigarettes Training Presentation

September 10, 2025

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CDC Empower Vape-Free Youth MATERIAL

CDC Office on Smoking and Health has developed a new campaign "Empower Vape-Free Youth." Material includes videos, fact sheet, print material, and more.

 

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FDA Vaping Prevention and Education Resource Center

From FDA

Our Purpose: Stop Nicotine Addiction Before It Starts

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Tobacco Products sees a future in which tobacco-related disease is part of America's past, helping ensure a healthier life for every family.  Our aim for this resource center is to help advance this vision by providing science-based, accessible materials to adults who positively influence our youth's lives.

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Our Breath is Sacred E-Cigarette Imaging Campaign

Here are e-cigarette/vaping communications resources directed toward Native American and Alaska Native youth.  This was developed in partnership with the Hannahville Health Center at the Hannahville Indian Community.  Learn more and download here.

Poster Sample.  Click Poster for more!

 

Don't Make Juul Your Fuel.  Vapes and e-cigs can harm your mental and physical health.

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ConsumerNotice.org: E-Cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, hit the United States market in 2007.  Since then, millions of people have taken up the tobacco alternative.  But there has been little time to research the long-term health effects of the devices, and their widespread use among teens has been called an epidemic that threatens to hook a new generation on nicotine.  LEARN MORE

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CDC: Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with the Use of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products

Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, hit the United States market in 2007.  Since then, millions of people have taken up the tobacco alternative.  But there has been little time to research the long-term health effects of the devices, and their widespread use among teens has been called an epidemic that threatens to hook a new generation on nicotine.  LEARN MORE

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Demographic Characteristics, Cigarette Smoking, and e-Cigarette Use Among US Adults

Understanding how electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are used by current, former, and never cigarette smokers may inform public health actions and tobacco regulations. Therefore, we examined the distribution of e-cigarette use, also called vaping, in the 2018-2019 Tobacco Use Supplement to the Current Population Survey, the largest nationally representative tobacco use survey of US adults.

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PDF INFOGRAPHIC - ELECTRONIC NICOTINE DELIVERY SYSTEMS KEY FACTS

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PDF Electronic Cigarette Use Among Adults: United States, 2014

Report on 2014 e-cigarette usage among adults in the United States by Charlotte A. Schoenborn, M.P.H.; and Renee M. Gindi, Ph.D., published by the US DHHS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Health Statistics.