John, 

As kids are preparing to head back to school, so is the tobacco industry – with new varieties of e-cigarettes that are sold in thousands of kid-friendly flavors, deliver more nicotine than ever before and now include built-in video games that make them even more appealing to kids. 

Almost all of these products are illegal. Yet they remain readily available at stores and online across the United States. We’re pushing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other government agencies to take these illegal products off the market NOW.

THE SITUATION

To date, the FDA has authorized the sale of only 34 e-cigarette products, most of which are tobacco-flavored, and made clear that all other e-cigarettes are on the market illegally. But that hasn't stopped e-cigarette manufacturers from flooding the market with dangerous, candy-flavored, youth-oriented products that are more addictive than ever before.

Nicotine content in these e-cigarettes has sky-rocketed. Some devices now contain as much nicotine as 20 packs of cigarettes or more, putting kids at risk of rapid addiction. Outrageously, the latest products include built-in video games like Pac-Man and other smart-phone features that lure kids.

This has real consequences. Over 2.1 million kids are using e-cigarettes; 90% of them use flavored products, and 1 in 3 vape frequently or every day. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug and can harm adolescent brain development, particularly the parts of the brain responsible for attention, memory and learning.

More graphics in our back-to-school kit >>

THE SOLUTION

It is unacceptable that so many illegal e-cigarettes remain for sale across the country, putting our kids are risk. There must be an intensified, coordinated, multi-agency federal effort to enforce the law and take these illegal products off the market.

The FDA and other agencies must make full use of all available enforcement tools, including fines, product seizures, import restrictions and criminal prosecutions.

We're fighting to make that happen.

Sign our petition calling on federal agencies to protect our kids and eliminate illegal e-cigarettes now >> 

After you take action, check out our new back-to-school webpage that has more information about the problem, as well as resources to raise awareness in your community.

Thanks for standing with us,

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