Policy Tip Sheet: Tobacco Harm Reduction 101: Pennsylvania

Since their introduction to the U.S. market in 2007, e-cigarettes and vaping devices—tobacco harm reduction products that are 95 percent safer than combustible cigarettes—have helped more than three million American adults quit smoking.

1. Economic Impact
According to the Vapor Technology Association, in 2018, the industry created 3,751 direct vaping-related jobs, including manufacturing, retail, and wholesale jobs in Pennsylvania, which generated $117 million in wages alone.[1] Moreover, the industry has created hundreds of secondary jobs in the Keystone State, bringing the total economic impact in 2018 to $893,070,400. In the same year, Pennsylvania received more than $53 million in state taxes attributable to the vaping industry. These figures do not include sales in convenience stores, which sell vapor products including disposables and prefilled cartridges. In 2016, sales of these products in Pennsylvania eclipsed $19.8 million.[2]

2. State Health Department Data
As of October 4, 2019 the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PDH) has reported nine confirmed cases of vaping-related lung injury, including one death.[3]  An August PDH health advisory noted that “in most cases, patients reported” using vaping devices containing tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).[4] Other state health departments provide more detailed information – age, gender, percentage reporting substances vaped, but PDH does not, nor provide timely updates. The Heartland Institute gives PDH a grade of D for information available on vaping-related lung illnesses.

3. More Information Needed
The most recent report on youth e-cigarette use in Pennsylvania is from the 2017 Pennsylvania Youth Survey.[5] According to the results, in 2017, 23.7 percent of Pennsylvania 10th and 12th grade students reported using vapor products on at least one day in the 30 days prior to the survey. There is no information on frequent and/or daily use. More data is needed to understand the effects of public health campaigns on youth e-cigarette use.  

4. Youth Sales Miniscule
From January 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) administered 7,493 tobacco age compliance inspections in Pennsylvania, in which the agency used a minor in an attempt to purchase tobacco products.[6] Of those, 1,042 or 14 percent, resulted in a sale to a minor. Of the violations, 83 (7 percent of violations and 1 percent of all compliance checks) involved the sale of e-cigarettes or vaping devices. The number of violations involving sales of cigars and cigarettes were 494 and 380, respectively, during the same period.

5. Misspent Money
In 2019, Pennsylvania received an estimated $1.7 billion in tobacco taxes and tobacco settlement payments. In the same year, the state spent only $15.5 million, or less than 1 percent on funding tobacco control programs, including education and prevention.[7] The lack of funding is notable in the state’s telephone quit line, of which Pennsylvania invests only $1.47 per smoker, less than the national average of $2.21.

Policy Solution
Electronic cigarettes and vaping devices have proven to be tremendous tobacco harm reduction tools, helping many smokers transition away from combustible cigarettes. Despite recent fearmongering, their use is significantly safer than traditional cigarettes, as noted by numerous public health groups including the Royal College of Physicians,[8] Public Health England,[9] and the American Cancer Society.[10] Rather than restricting their use, and undoubtedly reducing public health gains and millions of dollars in economic output, lawmakers should dedicate existing tobacco funds on programs that actually reduce youth use.

Key Points:

1. Pennsylvania’s vaping industry provided more than $893 million in economic activity in 2018 while generating 3,751 direct vaping-related jobs. Sales of disposables and prefilled cartridges in Pennsylvania exceeded $19.8 million in 2016.

2. As of October 4, 2019, PDH has reported nine cases of vaping-related lung illness, including one death. PDH noted in August, 2019 that “most” patients reported vaping THC. PDH earns a D for its reporting on vaping-related lung illnesses.

3. In 2017, 23.7 percent of Pennsylvania high school students reported using vapor products at least once in the 30 days prior to the survey. There is no information on frequent and/or daily use. More data is needed.  

4. Only 1 percent of FDA retail compliance checks resulted in sales of e-cigarettes to minors from January 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019.

5. Pennsylvania spends very little on tobacco prevention. In 2019, Pennsylvania dedicated only $15.5 million on tobacco control, or less than 1 percent of what the state received in tobacco settlement payments and taxes.