Sept. 16 (UPI) -- U.S. health officials have targeted youth vaping in a new campaign amid the high popularity of e-cigarettes used by young people.
On Tuesday, the Surgeon General's office in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services unveiled its new resource guide on youth and teen vaping to counter what many fear is a rising tide on e-cigarette use among America's younger population.
"Youth vaping is not a harmless trend," said Dr. Stephanie Haridopolos, senior adviser and acting chief of staff in the office of the U.S. Surgeon General.
More than 1.6 million youth last year reported vaping, and, additionally, up to 85% of e-cigarette devices and pods sold in U.S. retailers are considered to be "illegal products," according to federal authorities.
HHS officials argue that, despite evidence that alcohol use is on the decline, e-cigarette use among U.S. middle- and high-school students remains robust, saying that e-cigarette vaping is the most commonly used tobacco product by youth.
