When policymakers and public health professionals discuss vaping, the conversation almost always revolves around youth use. It’s as if the millions of adults who rely on vaping to reduce or quit smoking don’t exist—or worse, don’t matter. While protecting youth is undeniably important, the obsessive focus on this issue ignores a critical truth: adults vape too, and their needs and choices deserve to be part of the discussion.

The Decline in Youth Vaping

Let’s start with some good news. Youth vaping rates have significantly decreased over recent years. According to federal data, fewer teenagers are using e-cigarettes now compared to the peak in 2019. This decline is a testament to the success of measures like age restrictions and enforcement of current laws. Yet despite this progress, the narrative around vaping continues to center on youth use, fueling policies that threaten to strip away critical tools for adult smokers.

The Reality for Adults Who Vape

For millions of adults, vaping has been nothing short of life-changing. These products offer a less harmful alternative to smoking, allowing users to break free from combustible tobacco while still satisfying their nicotine cravings. Numerous studies have shown that vaping is one of the most effective smoking cessation tools available, and flavors play a crucial role in its success.

Imagine being a long-time smoker who’s finally quit thanks to vaping, only to be told you can no longer buy the flavors that helped you make the switch. It’s absurd. Adults deserve options that work for them, and studies have consistently shown that non-tobacco flavors—like fruits, desserts, and mint—are far more appealing and effective for smoking cessation than tobacco flavors.

Flavor Bans: A Misguided Approach

The push to ban flavored vaping products is not just irrational—it’s harmful. Proponents argue that banning flavors will deter youth from vaping, but they fail to consider the broader implications for adults. Here’s what’s often overlooked:

• Flavors Help Adults Quit Smoking
  Research shows that flavored vaping products are more effective than tobacco flavors in helping smokers transition away from combustible cigarettes. Removing these options would make it harder for adults to quit smoking, undermining public health goals.
• Black Markets Will Thrive
  Banning flavors won’t eliminate demand—it will simply push the market underground. Unregulated products are far more dangerous, as we saw during the 2019 lung injury outbreak caused by illicit THC cartridges.
• Adults Have Rights Too
  Why should adults lose access to products they use responsibly because of a youth vaping issue that’s already declining? It’s infantilizing and unfair to treat adult vapers as collateral damage in the war on youth vaping.

Ignoring the Evidence

Public health officials and policymakers often claim to base their decisions on science, yet they ignore mounting evidence that vaping is an effective harm reduction tool. Recent studies highlight the efficacy of flavored e-cigarettes in smoking cessation and the significant reduction in harm compared to combustible tobacco.

When you consider this evidence, it becomes clear that flavor bans aren’t just bad policy—they’re a disservice to public health. They prioritize optics over outcomes, punishing adult vapers while doing little to address youth use, which is already declining thanks to existing measures.

A Call for Balance

It’s time for a more balanced approach to vaping policy. Yes, we should continue to protect youth from accessing these products. But we must also recognize the needs of adult vapers and the role these products play in reducing smoking rates.

The conversation shouldn’t be about banning flavors—it should be about how we can ensure that vaping products are accessible, safe, and effective for the adults who use them. This means implementing smart regulations, enforcing existing age restrictions, and focusing on education rather than prohibition.

Adults Matter Too

The relentless focus on youth vaping ignores a fundamental truth: adults matter too. Adults who vape are former smokers, parents, workers, and community members who deserve better than to be ignored or dismissed. Their choices and successes should be celebrated, not undermined by misguided policies.

So here’s my message to policymakers and public health officials: stop pretending adults who vape don’t exist. Start listening to the millions of people who have successfully quit smoking thanks to vaping, and craft policies that reflect the full reality of tobacco harm reduction. Because when you ignore adult vapers, you’re ignoring one of the most significant public health successes of our time.