Since the advent of the modern cigarette in the late 1800’s, companies have been trying to circumvent regulations and known adverse health effects by creating reduced harm products ranging from cigarettes with filters and low tar to the modern day vape.
Claims of “reduced toxin exposure” is a century old marketing tactic
Modern vapes can specifically be traced to a patent application submitted in 1963 for a “smokeless non-tobacco cigarette” that replaced burning paper with battery powered heated moist air.
Followed by the Favor Cigarette in 1986
Modern vapes began in Japan in 2003 before rising to prominence in the US market in 2010
By 2013, 13.1 million middle and high schoolers were aware of e-cigs (per CDC). Only 1.5% were using e-cigs at this point
By 2015, 16% were using and surpassed rate of traditional cigarette use in this population
In May of 2016, FDA claims vapes/e-cigarettes are tobacco products and therefore under their regulatory rule