Puff bars: a dangerous trend in adolescent disposable e-cigarette use

Abstract

Purpose of review Puff Bars, a brand of disposable e-cigarettes, have skyrocketed in popularity recently, presenting significant health and safety risks to adolescents. Puff Bars and other disposable e-cigarette products are attractive to children and teenagers because of their vibrant colors and flavors, low cost, and ease of access. This review examines the rise in Puff Bar popularity, describes notable health and safety concerns, and provides advice for parents and pediatricians in identifying and preventing adolescent Puff Bar use. Recent findings Puff Bars have increased in popularity as their product design evaded strict regulations imposed on alternate e-cigarette products, such as Juul. In addition, Puff Bars’ sweet and fruit flavors and marketing on social media have made their use pervasive among youth. Puff Bar use can lead to increased risk of e-cigarette product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) and potential exposure to carcinogens. Furthermore, the developmental risks of nicotine use during adolescence include negative effects on cognitive function and detriments to short-term memory. Summary Puff Bars present a significant danger to adolescents, and it is imperative that parents and pediatricians are aware of the health risks involved with vaping. Pediatricians should explore e-cigarette use during patient visits, and parents must communicate these dangers to their children and be able to identify these products to regulate their use.

Analysis of e-cigarette warning letters issued by the Food and Drug Administration in 2020 and 2021

“…In fact, the makers of the most popular products among youth, such as JUUL, have a well-documented record of advertising to youth 23. While recently JUUL has complied with FDA directives and has voluntarily pulled many of its flavoured products (such as Mango, Fruit, Cucumber and Creme products) off the market in November 2018,24 there remains considerable ongoing concern with the burgeoning youth-oriented market for flavoured disposable products, such as Puff Bar 25…”

United States public health officials need to correct e‐cigarette health misinformation

“…New research papers continued to be published throughout 2022 with no mention of THC vapes as the source of Vitamin E acetate [13] or falsely claiming that specific brands of e‐cigarettes cause EVALI [14]. This demonstrates that, in addition to the public, clinicians and researchers continue to be confused by the name EVALI.…”

What are the characteristics of disposable electronic cigarettes users in Switzerland? A quantitative study among 14–25 year olds

“…A 2022 study led in France 6 showed that 13% of 13-16 year olds had already tried a DEC. The popularity of this product among youth could be partially explained by their presence on social media 7 and targeted marketing. 8 In addition to environmental issues and questions about the association between e-cigs WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ON THIS TOPIC ⇒ New disposable electronic cigarettes (DEC) are attracting youth with fruity and sweety flavours and bright colours.…”