*By Carlo Versano* The shocking rise in teen vaping is a public health crisis that the FDA has been slow to address, according to a nationally recognized cardiologist. Dr. Kevin Campbell, who is also CEO of Pace Mate, a digital cardiac monitoring service, said the [recent study](https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/11/e-cigarettes-single-handedly-drives-spike-in-teen-tobacco-use-cdc.html) from the CDC that linked vaping to a spike in teen tobacco use shows that more serious steps need to be take. The first step? Get rid of the flavored nicotine "pods," which Campbell said are acting as a gateway for teenage beginner vapers to get hooked on nicotine. "We don't know the long-term health effects yet," Campbell said. "I can't emphasize that enough." While popular vape products are unarguably "healthier" than combustible cigarettes, they still involve the delivery of an addictive drug (nicotine), that is known to do damage to the heart and blood vessels. And there is not enough data on the additives and preservatives that go into the pods. "They may be doing deleterious things to our bodies as well," Campbell said. One in five American high schoolers now vapes, according to the CDC, which is enough to cause alarm at the FDA. That agency recently announced a crackdown on vaping companies that market to teens, but that's not enough, in Campbell's opinion. "I think the FDA is a little bit late to the show here," he said. It's going to require a national education program ー think D.A.R.E. for a new era ー that explains the unknowns and risks involved in vaping. "We need to get ahead of it," Campbell said. For full interview [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/teen-tobacco-product-use-on-the-rise).

Share:
More In Business
Report: Big 3 to Pay Striking Workers
The big three car companies for GM and Stellantis have agreed to pay striking workers as they spend time on the picket line, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Stretching Your Dollar: How OneMain Financial is Teaching Kids About Credit
Learning about money is a skill that should be learned at an early age. OneMain Financial is now offering a financial course called 'Credit Worthy' across several high schools across the country, along with some scholarships. Doug Shulman, CEO of OneMain Financial, joined Cheddar News to discuss the importance of learning and understanding credit. "Over half of high school students graduate without knowing the basics about credit," Schulman said. "It really helps establish a great foundation to being an independent adult, to have a healthy and happy life, and some financial security is part of that."
Load More