"Significant increase" in teens vaping menthol or mint flavored e-cigarettes

Middle school and high school students are vaping mint or menthol flavors almost as much as fruit-flavored e-cigarette products, a new investigation by JAMA shows.

Reality check: The Trump administration is expected to announce this week a finalized ban on almost all flavored vaping products, but it won't include tobacco and menthol flavors.

By the numbers: For those who self-reported using Juul products in 2019, mint was the most popular flavor in 12th and 10th grades and the second most popular in 8th grade.

• About 1.6 million high school and middle school students have used fruit-flavored e-cigarettes in the last 30 days.
• About 1.2 million use menthol or mint flavors.
• About 830,000 use candy, dessert or other sweet–flavored e-cigarettes.

Background: A pulmonary lung disease from vaping has killed 39 people, including one teen, and more than 2,000 cases have been identified per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Still, much of the illnesses and deaths have been linked to black market sales and vape cartridges containing THC, the psychoactive component in marijuana.

Go deeper:

• Altria to take $4.5 billion writedown on Juul investment
• 37 reported dead from vaping-related lung illness
• Nearly 1,900 people report mysterious vaping illness