Nicotine Vapes are Increasing in Strength
Two large studies came out in the past month examining how nicotine potency has increased in vapes (up 76% in the past 5 years).
Here’s what they found:
Between January 2017–March 2022, monthly average nicotine strength of e-cigarette products increased from 2.5% to 4.4%, an average of 0.8% per month. The greatest rate of increase was for disposables (1.26% per month).
90% of disposable vapes have >5% nicotine
96% of “other” flavored vapes (including fruit and candy flavors) have > 5% nicotine
87% of mint vapes have > 5% nicotine
61.3% of tobacco-flavored vapes were >5% nicotine, the lowest category (and the one least appealing to teens)
The share of the vape market with > 5% nicotine strength increased by 1486.3%
Some of the authors suggest that we should cap the maximum nicotine strength allowed in vapes so this doesn’t continue. I think this sounds like a marvelous idea.
Sources