Landl: America’s focus on vaping misses the point
The recent Lancet Global Burden of Disease report reveals a troubling trend: young adults are facing an alarming increase in untimely deaths linked to mental health issues, substance overdoses, suicide, preventable chronic diseases, and violence, despite an overall decline in global death rates for this demographic. The statistics are striking; since 2011, there has been a significant rise in mortality rates among teenagers and young adults across North America. Anxiety disorders have surged by 63%, while depression has seen a 26% increase. Additionally, lifestyle-related chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and stroke are becoming more prevalent among younger populations. Researchers highlight that nearly two-thirds of the global disease burden now stems from non-communicable diseases, emphasizing that half of all deaths and disabilities could be averted by tackling preventable factors like obesity and tobacco use.
Despite these pressing issues, U.S. lawmakers seem to be fixated on regulating nicotine and vaping, often citing youth protection as their primary motivation. However, this focus appears misguided when juxtaposed with the actual drivers of youth mortality. Recent data from the CDC indicates that smoking rates among adults and youths are at their lowest levels in 75 years, yet a majority of Americans continue to inaccurately associate nicotine with cancer linked to smoking. Furthermore, the widely held belief that vaping acts as a gateway to traditional smoking lacks substantial evidence. Instead, the underlying causes of youth behavior—such as anxiety, depression, economic conditions, and peer pressure—are far more influential in shaping the health outcomes of young people.
Public officials are urged to prioritize addressing the real issues affecting youth health, such as enhancing mental health services, expanding addiction treatment, and launching public health campaigns that target the root causes of the current youth mortality crisis. While preventing youth vaping remains important and is being effectively managed, it is crucial that policymakers do not lose sight of the broader context. Young people today are experiencing stagnating or declining life expectancy compared to older generations, and the factors contributing to this trend extend far beyond vaping. As Michael Landl, director of the World Vapers’ Alliance, emphasizes, focusing on the true drivers of youth mortality is essential for fostering a healthier future for the younger generation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5Xh69Koq28
The latest Lancet Global Burden of Disease report makes it abundantly clear: young adults are suffering a rising tide of untimely deaths related to mental health, overdose, suicide, preventable chronic diseases, and violence, even while global death rates decline overall for this group. Turn on the TV and you’ll get a different sense of the most pressing problems for youths, namely, vaping.
There’s a saying in military circles, “mind the alligator closest to the boat,” and U.S. politicians desperately need to get a handle on the most pressing issues for young people.
The report shows that across North America, deaths among teenagers and young adults have increased significantly since 2011. Worldwide, anxiety disorders have increased by 63% and depression by 26% in recent years. Meantime, chronic diseases tied to lifestyle factors, including diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease and stroke are rising among younger populations.
Researchers estimate that almost two-thirds of the global disease burden is now due to non-communicable diseases. Half of all deaths and disabilities worldwide could be prevented by addressing factors like obesity, high blood sugar and tobacco use.
Despite this evidence, lawmakers continue to fixate on nicotine and vaping. State legislatures made moves in 2025 to limit or restrict these products for adults and future generations.
Youth protection is always the stated reason, and it’s an understandable motive, but ignorant of the most pressing drivers of youth mortality. Would-be regulators are often responding to coordinated campaigns by activists and parents operating on faulty premises or dated myths. For starters, smoking has never been less of a problem than it is today, and that’s according to the CDC’s latest data on youth tobacco use. Adult smoking rates are also at their lowest level in 75 years.
Still, a majority of Americans wrongly associate nicotine with cancer caused by smoking. Then there’s the worry that vaping leads teenagers toward conventional smoking, which is also not supported by evidence. Research systematically refutes the “gateway” myth.
Many factors combine to drive youth behavior, including anxiety, depression, economic circumstances, family history and peer-group pressure.
Public officials should take these findings seriously and prioritize a strengthening of mental health services, addiction treatment and public health campaigns targeting the true drivers of the current youth mortality crisis. Attention spent on advancing restrictive vaping bans for adults (youth vaping is already banned) diverts time and resources away from the drivers of this spike in youth mortality.
Preventing youth vaping is crucial and is being achieved to a significant extent. That said, we shouldn’t lose sight of the bigger picture: young people worldwide are seeing their life expectancy decrease or remain static compared to older generations, and the reasons are many, but vaping isn’t one of them.
Michael Landl is the director of the World Vapers’ Alliance/InsideSources
