FDA: We’re gonna crack down on flavored vaping products

The FDA has sort of banned flavored e-cigarettes. We say “sort of” because the details are … detailed.

It comes down to this: On Thursday, the FDA released its “Guidance for Industry” (PDF) for what it called ENDS products: electronic nicotine delivery systems.

It says, in broad strokes….

  • The agency will “prioritize enforcement resources” against any flavored vaping cartridge except those with tobacco or menthol flavoring. (Vape shops that let customers refill reusable cartridges aren’t affected.)
  • The agency will also target products marketed toward minors, or that are easily available to minors.
  • The FDA reminds e-cig product makers that any vaping product requires agency approval to be sold, and it’s going to be looking particularly hard at product released after May 12, 2020.

It also says that this is a guidance document — meaning it’s technically not a new law; it just “describe[s] the Agency’s current thinking on a topic.” In this case, it’s how the agency will enforce the Tobacco Control Act* with respect to e-cigarettes.

As for why it’s only looking at flavored products:

By not prioritizing enforcement against other flavored ENDS products in the same way as flavored cartridge-based ENDS products, the FDA has attempted to balance the public health concerns related to youth use of ENDS products with considerations regarding addicted adult cigarette smokers who may try to use ENDS products to transition away from combustible tobacco products.

* But there’s no tobacco, you say. The law also includes “other products that meet the statutory definition of a tobacco product.”

Flu numbers update

Per the CDC:

  • 1,931 flu-related hospitalizations in the last week (a total of more than 39,000)
  • 52.9% from influenza A virus, 46.4% with influenza B virus, 0.4%) with both
  • 2,100 deaths, include 22 children
  • We reached this level of infection eight weeks earlier than last year.

Shout-out to A.J.

Grats and a virtual high-five to Wellstar’s assistant VP of operations, A.J. Brooks of Vinings, who was named one of Cobb Life’s “20 Under 40.”

Mirtazapine recall (aka “Double, double, toil and trouble”)

Aurobindo Pharma is recalling its mirtazapine tablets (lot number 03119002A3) because it might actually be double the labeled strength.

The timing of the smoke matters

Here’s an odd finding: Secondhand smoke can increase your risk of diabetes, but much more so if you’re exposed to high levels and then it stops. (Yes, you read that right.) While no smoke is best, people exposed to “a stable, consistent level of secondhand smoke throughout the life course” were in fact less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those with a short-term exposure.

Bacteria in urine? Remain calm

Those little buggers are everywhere*, and bacteria doesn’t mean infection. We’ve got enough of an antibiotic problem as it is, so: “Rx for Doctors: Stop With the Urine Tests.”

* Once again we’re happy to plug Rob Dunn’s Never Home Alone

A better way to vaccinate for TB

If you have a monkey you want to vaccinate against tuberculosis, you should consider giving the vaccine intravenously, not intradermally. Apparently (according to a study published in Nature), injecting Ye Olde BCG vaccine into a vein provides a lot more protection.

Don’t, however, do this to a human … yet. “[T]he experts warned that rigorous safety testing would be needed before live bacteria can be injected into human bloodstreams.”

The Long Read: Captive Audience edition

“Drug companies are courting jails and judges through sophisticated marketing efforts.”

[T]he relationship between drug companies and the criminal-justice system seems to have intensified: free samples to detention facilities; comped lunches during which jail and prison doctors learn about medications; and payments to physicians to tout certain medications at conferences for criminal-justice professionals, including those without health-care licenses such as sheriffs and drug-court judges.