Notes from the Field: Characteristics of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products Confiscated in Public High Schools in California and North Carolina—March and May 2019

October 23, 2020 / Vol. 69 / 42

MMWR Introduction

To understand the types of e-cigarette, or vaping, products used on school grounds, CDC conducted an environmental assessment in California and North Carolina public high schools in March and May 2019, respectively. Approximately 1,000 e-cigarette, or vaping, products were confiscated from 25 high schools in California and North Carolina during the 2018–19 academic year. E-cigarette, or vaping, products are electronic devices that produce an inhalable aerosol by heating an e-liquid that typically contains nicotine and other additives. Nicotine is highly addictive, can harm adolescent brain development, and can prime the brain for addiction to other drugs.

School-based efforts to reduce and prevent tobacco product use are most effective when they are part of a comprehensive approach along with other evidence-based population-level strategies. School-level efforts could include adopting tobacco-free policies (including e-cigarettes) with enforcement measures that include access to resources and treatment for students, rather than punishment; implementing evidence-based curricula not sponsored by tobacco companies; and educating school staff members and parents about the changing product marketplace and known health risks of youth tobacco product use, including e-cigarettes.

MMWR Highlights

  • Approximately 1,000 e-cigarette products (devices and e-liquid cartridges) were confiscated at 25 public high schools in California (n = 576) and North Carolina (n = 443) during the 2018–19 academic year. Products were characterized by device type, e-liquid cartridge type, and brand.
  • Most commonly confiscated device types
    California (n = 233): pod-mods,* 64%.
    North Carolina (n = 176): pod-mods, 74%.
  • Most commonly confiscated e-liquid cartridge types
    California (n = 343): pod-mod cartridges, 80%.
    North Carolina (n = 267): pod-mod cartridges, 81%.
  • Most commonly confiscated brands
    California
    • Suorin (29%)
    • SMOK (15%)
    • JUUL (14%)
  • North Carolina
    • JUUL (48%)
    • SMOK (16%)
    • Suorin (9%)

*Pod-mods are a type of e-cigarette with prefilled or refillable pod cartridges.