Home Politics America Anti-Vaping Congressman Shares More Misinformation About Vaping

Anti-Vaping Congressman Shares More Misinformation About Vaping

Ignoring all the scientific data indicating the effectivity of e-cigs as smoking cessation tools, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D–Ill.), says 'there's simply no evidence' that e-cigarettes can help smokers quit.

Diane Caruana

April 5, 2022

US vaping rates are actually decreasing.

Last year, Raja Krishnamoorthi sent a letter to the former US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner, Dr. Stephen Hahn, urging him to clear the market of all e-cigarettes for the duration of the coronavirus crisis. The letter based its arguments on data suggesting that vaping may increase one’s risk of contracting Covid-19 and suffering symptoms. “This is true in vapers as young as 13, which is particularly concerning, given that young people are increasingly driving the spread of COVID-19, threatening the health and safety of Americans of all ages,” read the letter.

Earlier this year, the Congressman reintroduced the END ENDS Act which proposed a cap on nicotine concentrations in vapes switch the aim of combating teen vaping. Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat representing the 8th Congressional District of Illinois, said that he is continuing his work to end the youth vaping epidemic by advocating for legislation like the END ENDS Act (also known as the Ending Nicotine Dependence From Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Act).

Subsequently in a recent letter to the Chicago Sun-Time, the congressman once again exaggerated the threats posed by underage vaping, equating it to smoking and said “there’s simply no evidence” that e-cigarettes help smokers quit. Krishnamoorthi, failed to acknowledge the scientific peer reviewed studies indicating the effectivity of the products as smoking cessation tools and their potential to reduce tobacco harm.

In countries where vaping rates have increased, smoking rates have decreased

Meanwhile, countless health entities such as Public Health England (PHE) promote such alternative products as smoking cessation and/or harm reduction tools. Contradicting what Krishnamoorthi is claiming, a number of studies have pointed out that in countries where vaping rates have increased, smoking rates have decreased, and vaping rates seem to decreasing aswell.

In fact, a 2020 US survey indicated that only 20% of high school students and 5% of middle school students have reported recently using e-cigs. This is a significant drop in comparison to the 28% and 11% reported in 2019, with the percentages suggested to equate to a drop of 1.8 million, from 5.4 million to 3.6 million.

Read Further: Reason