Florida bans Chine vapes, good news for smokers who use them to quit cigarettes | Opinion

Over the past few years, Florida has unfortunately become the nation’s leader in illegal vapes.

Lack of federal enforcement and confusion in the marketplace opened the floodgates for illegal disposable vapes from China to wash over the Sunshine State, targeting our kids with candy and dessert flavors.

But Florida is fighting back. Thanks to the leadership of Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state legislature, we now have a chance to protect our young people and help save the lives of millions of cigarette smokers who use vapes to quit.

It’s important to realize that all vapes are not created equal - some are legal, some are not.

There are currently 34 nicotine vapes authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The vapes that are authorized have been reviewed by the FDA and deemed “appropriate for the protection of public health.”

The FDA recognizes that some nicotine and tobacco products are riskier than others. Burning and smoking cigarettes introduces toxins that can cause disease. Authorized vapes that deliver nicotine without smoke are 95% less harmful.

So when Gov. DeSantis signed HB 1007 into law that would fight back against illegal Chinese vapes, it scored several vital points for Florida’s public health.

First and foremost, a published product directory would protect our children from the illegal products that have become most popular among teenagers.

The directory would guide law enforcement and retailers on the products that are authorized for sale and those illicit products manufactured without oversight or approval.

At the same time, this important law is creating a functional marketplace for innovative, safer alternatives to cigarettes.

Right now, there are over 2 million cigarette smokers in Florida who are struggling to kick the habit. Anyone who has smoked or knows a smoker knows that quitting cigarettes cold turkey is incredibly difficult. Strategies like behavioral therapy, patches, and gums aren’t always successful. These struggling smokers deserve access to safer, more effective nicotine alternatives like vapes to help them quit.

Brian King, the head of the FDA Center for Tobacco Products, coauthored a paper recommending that healthcare providers talk to patients about the “health benefit” of switching completely from cigarettes to vapes.

A top Harvard Medical School researcher echoed that sentiment in the New England Journal of Medicine saying that switching “…reduces respiratory symptoms, and reverses smoking-related physiological changes.”

Cochrane, a respected authority that analyzes randomized clinical trials, has published evidence that shows nicotine vapes are more effective cessation tools than the patches and gums you’d find at your pharmacy. Fresh research shows that nicotine vapes may even be as effective as prescription drugs used to help smokers quit.

That’s why Gov. DeSantis made such an important move for public health by signing this HB 1007 into law.

Most people across America think that vapes are as harmful or worse than cigarettes and it’s just not true. FDA leadership has stated that these misconceptions could adversely impact patient counseling and reduce the odds of people switching away from cigarettes.

This misconception is particularly acute in Hispanic and Black communities where smoking is more prevalent. A directory that provides more education to the marketplace about vaping products that are appropriate for the protection of public health will help smokers who are struggling to quit.

Black and Hispanic communities, active-duty military and veterans, people with disabilities all smoke more than average. These communities who often deal with unique stresses will be the ones that can benefit most from less harmful alternatives like nicotine vapes. Reversing misconceptions about nicotine and vapes will help these communities quit cigarettes and reduce health disparities in those populations.

It’s rare that one common-sense policy can be so effective in advancing important public health goals. In one stroke of the pen, Gov. DeSantis protected Florida’s children, strengthened our defenses against unscrupulous Chinese manufacturers, and gave a lifeline to every smoker in Florida.

Let’s continue to support the cause of public health and save the lives of millions of smokers by providing education and access to less harmful nicotine alternatives.

Liliana Ros is the Miami-Dade Republican State Committeewoman.