In a market frozen since August 8, 2016 the researchers tried to understand how american vapers would intend to manage their consumption. In a country where about 9 million people use e-cigarettes, the new regulations produced by the powerful FDA are likely to create a dangerous black market, as suggested by the study.
Stock, black market and DIY
Most of the respondents (>60%) above 9,040 vapers surveyed online between May 27 and June 27 2016 are prompt to react to the new regulation and:
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Buy in bulk/ stock up on e-cigarette, liquid and other supplies some time before the regulations come into effect;
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Continue to use e-cigarettes by buying products and supplies (e.g. liquids) from a local non-authorised vendor (i.e. buy from the ‘black’ market’);
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Continue to use e-cigarettes by importing products and supplies (e.g. liquids) from an overseas vendor;
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Continue to use e-cigarettes by making my own liquids (DIY).
Tabac en perspective
More alarming is the intent of about 15% of the 8,451 former smokers to relapse into smoking tobacco; 9% of 307 never-smoker told they would start smoking and 33% of the 282 smokers declared they would smoke more.
Among the 8,451 respondents, current e-cigarette users who have stopped smoking in response to FDA’s deeming regulations of e-cigarettes coming into effect on August 8th 2016:
Lack of communication with and of interest in vapers
The authors are fearing that the FDA’s deeming rule brings many negative effects to public health, exposing vapers to some products potentially more dangerous because of a lower quality. The black market, as anticipated by this study, could feed a criminal network and affect the follow up of vapers in the country. It would then become difficult for the authorities to evaluate the dynamics of this market if a substantial part occurred unofficially and beyond any governmental control. Difficult also, in such conditions to evaluate the impact of the law.
The lack of communication with vapers and professionals and the absence of interest in the real impacts of the new regulations are the main critics addressed to the FDA by this study that offers the advantages of a structured dissertation that brings concrete solutions to the US problematic of vaping.
Russel C., McKeganey N., 2016. Intended Responses of 9,040 Current E-Cigarette Users to FDA’s Deeming Regulations of E-Cigarettes
I encourage vapers to do the Black Market thing ! It works ! I should know !
Sad but hardly surprising. Go back to paying ridiculously inflated prices ? F that ! We are going to continue vaping since it’s a healthier option and we’ll be damned if we’re going back to spending a fortune