ORLANDO – Flavoring and lack of Food and Drug Administration regulation of e-cigarettes has led to more children and adolescents using these devices, according to American Academy of Pediatrics President Colleen A. Kraft, MD.
In an interview, Dr. Kraft said the FDA should regulate these products and limit their purchase to adults who are at least 21 years old. E-cigarettes were initially intended as an aid for adults to reduce their cigarette use, but the addition of flavoring has attracted children and adolescents to the devices, Dr. Kraft noted.
“When you have these devices that have flavors like gummy bear and cotton candy and bubblegum, you are marketing to children, and we are calling out the FDA because they could actually stop this today,” she said. In fact, Dr. Kraft added, many children and adolescents don’t even realize that e-cigarettes contain nicotine.
Dr. Kraft reported no relevant conflicts of interest.