Resolution authorizing the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold a hearing on the prevalence of vaping among children and the effectiveness of current enforcement efforts.

Resolution authorizing the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold a hearing on the prevalence of vaping among children and the effectiveness of current enforcement efforts. WHEREAS, The use of e-cigarettes and vaping devices among Philadelphian children and adolescents has reached alarming levels; and WHEREAS, Scientific evidence has proved youth vaping poses significant risks to physical and mental health, including nicotine addiction, respiratory issues, and developmental harm; and WHEREAS, In Philadelphia, data from a 2019 Department of Public Health indicates that 7% of high school students reported using electronic vapor products, surpassing the 2% who reported cigarette use, highlighting the shift in nicotine consumption among youth; and WHEREAS, Nationally, the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey found that about 6% of middle and high school students currently use e-cigarettes, including about 8% of high school students and around 4% of middle school students; and WHEREAS, The Philadelphia Department of Public Health and other public health stakeholders have previously enacted measures to curb the rise of vaping, including prohibiting flavored tobacco products and restricting the sale of e-cigarettes to minors; and WHEREAS, Despite these measures, vaping remains prevalent among children, suggesting the need for a comprehensive review of enforcement efforts, educational outreach, and other preventative strategies; and WHEREAS, Addressing youth vaping requi…