MD Magazine reports that researchers who studied 2017 data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey concluded the use of flavored tobacco products by US adolescents increased to 63.6 percent that year, “ending a steady decline in use,” which was down to 57.7 percent in 2016. As health officials and investigators consider the cause, “a number of sources are pointing fingers at a lack of legislation and e-cigarettes.” Hongying (Daisy) Dai, PhD, who led the team in the analysis said, “This study shows that the rebound was largely due to an increase of flavor use in e-cigarettes.” MD Magazine reports that FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, proposed legislation in November “that would prevent kids from having access to flavored tobacco products, especially those used in electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) products” and “asked the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) to revisit the compliance policy as it applies to deemed ENDS products that are flavored, including all flavors other than tobacco, mint, and menthol.” Gottlieb also called for sales only in “age-restricted, in-person locations, and under heightened practices” for verifying ages in online sales.

From the news release of the American Association for Justice.