Stories

In 2018, Food and Drug Administration launched a public health campaign warning about a so-called vaping epidemic, using shocking imagery to discourage e-cigarette use. Earlier in the 2010s, the FDA focused on harm reduction by encouraging smokers to switch to lower-risk nicotine products such as e-cigarettes. However, when vaping became increasingly popular among teenagers, public health messaging shifted toward discouraging vaping altogether. Anti-vaping campaigns by the government and non-profit organizations appear to have been effective, as the percentage of middle and high school students reporting vaping in the past 30 days dropped significantly from 20% in 2019 to 5.9% in 2024.

Singapore has launched a new crackdown on vapes, eight years after officially banning the product, aligning its efforts with other countries that are tightening regulations on e-cigarettes. The move comes amid growing concern over a rise in teenage vaping, particularly involving so-called k-pods, which are e-cigarettes laced with etomidate, an anaesthetic normally used in hospitals. Authorities have introduced stricter penalties to address the issue, including fines, mandatory rehabilitation, and even caning for those found supplying k-pods.

Tobacco harm reduction strategies are designed to lessen the enormous health burden caused by smoking by offering lower-risk alternatives to people who are unable or unwilling to stop using combustible cigarettes. In recent years, nicotine pouches have emerged as a new category of tobacco-free oral products. Although they are conceptually derived from Swedish snus, they differ by completely eliminating the tobacco leaf, which distinguishes them from traditional smokeless tobacco products.

As a retired police lieutenant, I’ve seen firsthand how well-intentioned policies often backfire when they ignore basic truths about human behavior. Whether it’s drugs or other public health concerns, the lesson has been the same: When we try to control people’s choices through punishment or sweeping mandates, we often create new harms while failing to address the old ones. That’s why the Food and Drug Administration’s recently announced pilot program to streamline review of nicotine pouch products is a welcome step forward. It reflects a balanced, science-based understanding of the role nicotine pouches play in smoking cessation and public safety.

Australia has the most expensive cigarettes in the world, a pack of midmarket cigarettes costing on average about 55 Australian dollars, or almost $40, nearly double what it will set you back in New York City. A series of steep tax hikes — eight in 10 years — were put in place to reduce the rate of smoking, which has steadily declined. But the high prices have also given rise to a thriving black market now estimated to be a multibillion-dollar industry that accounts for as much as half of all tobacco sales in the country.

Health surveys indicate a rise in nicotine pouch and vape usage, especially among non-cigarette smokers. While vaping has been a concern for youth, the surge in nicotine pouch use has been less acknowledged. These pouches, introduced in 2019, are popular among young adults and adolescents, sometimes replacing e-cigarettes. Concerns about health impacts and limited research exist. Marketing strategies have boosted sales, leading to calls for tighter regulations. The Irish government seeks to ban sales to under 18s. Addressing the dual use of pouches and vapes is crucial, prompting the need for innovative responses from health authorities. Further research is necessary to inform prevention strategies, especially targeting young users.

The head of the World Health Organization urged the EU to update regulations on nicotine products like vapes and pouches due to industry opposition. The UN chief emphasized the need to address regulatory loopholes threatening tobacco control. Despite delays in revising EU rules, countries like Ireland have taken steps to regulate vapes and tobacco products. The European Commission is evaluating existing regulations, with potential changes expected. Ireland aims to lead negotiations on tobacco legislation during its EU presidency. Concerns over the rise of vaping, especially among youths, have prompted calls for comprehensive tobacco control measures. The Commission's proposal for revising the Tobacco Products Directive may impact negotiations starting in 2027.

“Shoddy” and “flawed.” That’s how Trump’s FDA Commissioner, Marty Makary, describes the National Youth Tobacco Survey, the CDC’s flagship youth surveillance system and the very dataset the FDA has relied on for more than a decade to justify vaping crackdowns, public panic, and sweeping prohibitionist policy. In this episode of RegWatch, behavioral scientist Dr. Arielle Selya unpacks the Commissioner’s claims. From “popcorn lung,” to the conflation of nicotine vaping with illicit THC products, to the astonishing assertion that principals and doctors “know better” than national surveillance data, the episode exposes a regulator who has fallen prey to the anti-vaping narrative he was supposed to evaluate objectively.

On Friday, the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration of China issued a notice aimed at curbing price wars in the country’s e-cigarette industry. The regulator instructed manufacturers to address overcapacity by suspending new investment projects and halting the construction of additional production plants. Although it stated that the overall capacity utilisation rate remains at a high level, the authority expressed concern about excessive expansion and intensified competition. The notice also warned companies not to circumvent the directive by building facilities officially designated for other products but in reality used to manufacture e-cigarettes.

The hugely popular GFN ScienceLab returns to GFN26, offering you the opportunity to present your science focussed THR-related research to the GFN audience. With only a limited number of presentation spots available, we don’t want you to miss the opportunity to showcase your amazing work in Warsaw. The deadline for submitting is 17 April 2026 but GFN ScienceLab sessions are popular, so early submissions are encouraged. Submit your GFN Science Lab films here. If selected to present a GFN ScienceLab session, participants will need to purchase a registration to attend GFN 2026 in person. Take advantage of a GFN26 discount at the Warsaw Presidential via our accommodation page.