In a recent “Industry Watch” research paper published in the journal Tobacco Control, two scientists from the University of California, Riverside, have raised significant concerns about new electronic cigarette products equipped with advanced features such as touch screens, animated displays, and built-in games.
These user-friendly devices, particularly attractive to youth, have the potential to couple nicotine addiction with gaming disorder. The researchers warn that these products might entice young individuals who previously had no interest in nicotine products, while also reinforcing addiction among current users.
The researchers, Man Wong and Prue Talbot, are particularly worried about the integration of nicotine use with common youth behaviors like video gaming and screen time. They fear this could expand the smart electronic cigarette market to a broader youth audience.
One specific device, the Craftbox V-Play, is highlighted for its ability to run classic arcade games such as Pac-Man and Tetris. Other concerning devices include vapes with digital games encouraging users to vape, animations that change with each puff, and those with customizable features like Bluetooth and personal photos, as well as celebrity endorsements offering promotional trading cards.
Prue Talbot emphasizes the need to monitor the evolving trends in vape designs, especially as disposable vapes have become more complex and attractive to youth over the past two years.
Initially simple nicotine delivery systems, these devices now resemble smartphones and handheld gaming devices, making them more appealing to a younger audience. This evolution underscores the critical need for close monitoring and regulation of these products to protect youth from potential addiction.
Talbot and Wong advocate for stringent monitoring and regulation of these new devices. They highlight that smart vapes pose a risk of multiple addictions: nicotine dependence, gaming disorder, and screen time obsession.
The researchers hope their findings will prompt the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory bodies to take action, potentially including bans on certain features or even disposable vapes altogether, as has been done in some countries.
The affordability of these advanced vapes, priced around $15-20 each, further exacerbates the issue, making them accessible to youth. These prices are comparable to, or even lower than, previous popular products like PUFF BARs or ELFBARs, yet the new vapes offer more puffs, higher power, and smart features.
The rapid evolution of vape technology and the slow pace of regulatory responses leave youth particularly vulnerable to these products. Moreover, the environmental impact of disposable vapes, especially those with screens and digital components, adds another layer of concern, increasing the urgency for effective regulation and public awareness.
