Deleted Tweets From Scott Gottlieb, R-D.C.

Given nicotine’s addictive properties, it’s really not surprising to see data showing that 27.7% of current high school e-cig users reported using the product 20 or more days in the past month https://t.co/xqylSqOdnw. https://t.co/ADL09cRzXO

And even e-cigarettes without nicotine may contain flavoring chemicals and other chemicals such as formaldehyde, that can be harmful to the lungs, as well as heavy metals such as nickel, chromium and lead. They are not risk free. There's mounting data they can affect the lungs. https://t.co/RlXUlJY1eI

The epidemic-rise in youth e-cig use has prompted a series of escalating actions by FDA in enforcement, regulatory steps, and public health education over the past year. The agency will continue to take new actions, and consider other regulatory changes if these trends continue.

Even more concerning: kids using e-cigs are more likely to start using combustible cigarettes, according to research published in JAMA, and not all would have otherwise smoked cigarettes https://t.co/POBuyEnEzc. https://t.co/gadgzZolYJ

We took actions in partnership with the FTC to target e-liquid manufacturers whose products used misleading kid-appealing imagery that mimicked juice boxes, lollipops and other foods. https://t.co/yQmm5u4Ave

Last summer we issued > 1,300 warning letters and fines to retailers who illegally sold e-cig products to minors. This nationwide undercover blitz of brick and mortar and online stores was the largest coordinated enforcement effort in #FDA history https://t.co/pnJmRbYBW0. https://t.co/u5rn3snlWM

With research showing a significant portion of youth do not see great risk of harm in regularly vaping nicotine, there is a need for targeted education efforts focused on the potential dangers of e-cig use in adolescence https://t.co/H3WA611ktS. https://t.co/ASVc2bRsWi

So last year #FDA launched “The Real Cost” E-cigarette Prevention Campaign, a campaign designed to snap teens out of their “cost-free” mentality by educating them about the potential risks of these products, urging them to “know the real cost of vaping.” We'll soon launch TV ads https://t.co/niy6sno0nF

We called on manufacturers to take voluntary actions to prevent youth access to these products and to take meaningful steps to curb their youth appeal. Data show that 70% of current youth ENDS users said they used ENDS products “because they come in flavors I like.”

The guidance https://t.co/qoWU43xO5d discusses ways to limit youth access to and appeal of flavored e-cigs, such as heightened age verification, sales only in locations that minors are not able to enter at any time, and quantity limits for online sales. https://t.co/HDk7WWjnWS

Last week we announced a proposal to end our current compliance policy as it applies to certain flavored ENDS products (except tobacco-, mint-, or menthol-flavored) https://t.co/nwxDyOoh2M, and we issued a draft guidance outlining our proposed enforcement priorities. https://t.co/3BwKq2NF2D

Last week’s action is another step in preventing youth use and access to e-cigs - but it doesn’t end there.

Recent evidence indicates that tobacco, mint and menthol flavored ENDS are more preferred by adults than minors, and adults may be using these products to cease use of combustible tobacco. Thus, we’re not currently proposing to change the compliance policy for these products. https://t.co/QIY28o4ynN

Our draft guidance also states that #FDA expects manufacturers of flavored ENDS products (other than tobacco, mint and menthol) to submit premarket applications by Aug. 8, 2021 – a year earlier than expected under our previous policy.

The 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey begins this month. To ensure the survey addresses youth who don’t think JUUL, or similar products, are e-cigs, we have worked with the CDC to ask kids what product brands they use, including JUUL. We’ll be closely monitoring the results.

If youth use spikes again in 2019, the #FDA will have to consider additional regulatory steps, including action to require flavored pod-based e-cigs to come off the market until they have successfully completed the application process. These are the product kids are using.

The #FDA will not allow a generation of children to become addicted to nicotine. This effort will carry on after I leave the agency. These efforts are embedded in the public health DNA of this agency and strongly supported by @SecAzar and the White House. https://t.co/iUoGjPh5xY

Later this year we’ll also expand “The Real Cost” E-Cig Prevention Campaign to television to further reach youth about the dangers of e-cigarette use. I urge others to consider stepping up their efforts to educate and protect children as well. https://t.co/ekdn8rdjFM

If youth use rises again in 2019, whatever redeeming public health value this category of pod-based products may have for adult smokers, that potential benefit will be fully offset by the youth use. These products are on the market only out of enforcement discretion by #FDA.

E-cig use among kids is so widespread, so pervasive, that we risk addicting an entire generation of children on nicotine and watching the dramatic gains we’ve made in reducing smoking rates be reversed. https://t.co/JKrLfF1m09

Given nicotine’s addictive properties, it’s really not surprising to see data showing that 27.7% of current high school e-cig users reported using the product 20 or more days in the past month https://t.co/xqylSqOdnw. https://t.co/ADL09cRzXO

And even e-cigarettes without nicotine may contain flavoring chemicals and other chemicals such as formaldehyde, that can be harmful to the lungs, as well as heavy metals such as nickel, chromium and lead. They are not risk free. There's mounting data they can affect the lungs. https://t.co/RlXUlJY1eI

The epidemic-rise in youth e-cig use has prompted a series of escalating actions by FDA in enforcement, regulatory steps, and public health education over the past year. The agency will continue to take new actions, and consider other regulatory changes if these trends continue.

Even more concerning: kids using e-cigs are more likely to start using combustible cigarettes, according to research published in JAMA, and not all would have otherwise smoked cigarettes https://t.co/POBuyEnEzc. https://t.co/gadgzZolYJ

We took actions in partnership with the FTC to target e-liquid manufacturers whose products used misleading kid-appealing imagery that mimicked juice boxes, lollipops and other foods. https://t.co/yQmm5u4Ave

Last summer we issued > 1,300 warning letters and fines to retailers who illegally sold e-cig products to minors. This nationwide undercover blitz of brick and mortar and online stores was the largest coordinated enforcement effort in #FDA history https://t.co/pnJmRbYBW0. https://t.co/u5rn3snlWM

With research showing a significant portion of youth do not see great risk of harm in regularly vaping nicotine, there is a need for targeted education efforts focused on the potential dangers of e-cig use in adolescence https://t.co/H3WA611ktS. https://t.co/ASVc2bRsWi

So last year #FDA launched “The Real Cost” E-cigarette Prevention Campaign, a campaign designed to snap teens out of their “cost-free” mentality by educating them about the potential risks of these products, urging them to “know the real cost of vaping.” We'll soon launch TV ads https://t.co/niy6sno0nF

We called on manufacturers to take voluntary actions to prevent youth access to these products and to take meaningful steps to curb their youth appeal. Data show that 70% of current youth ENDS users said they used ENDS products “because they come in flavors I like.”

The guidance https://t.co/qoWU43xO5d discusses ways to limit youth access to and appeal of flavored e-cigs, such as heightened age verification, sales only in locations that minors are not able to enter at any time, and quantity limits for online sales. https://t.co/HDk7WWjnWS

Last week we announced a proposal to end our current compliance policy as it applies to certain flavored ENDS products (except tobacco-, mint-, or menthol-flavored) https://t.co/nwxDyOoh2M, and we issued a draft guidance outlining our proposed enforcement priorities. https://t.co/3BwKq2NF2D

Last week’s action is another step in preventing youth use and access to e-cigs - but it doesn’t end there.

Recent evidence indicates that tobacco, mint and menthol flavored ENDS are more preferred by adults than minors, and adults may be using these products to cease use of combustible tobacco. Thus, we’re not currently proposing to change the compliance policy for these products. https://t.co/QIY28o4ynN

Our draft guidance also states that #FDA expects manufacturers of flavored ENDS products (other than tobacco, mint and menthol) to submit premarket applications by Aug. 8, 2021 – a year earlier than expected under our previous policy.

The 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey begins this month. To ensure the survey addresses youth who don’t think JUUL, or similar products, are e-cigs, we have worked with the CDC to ask kids what product brands they use, including JUUL. We’ll be closely monitoring the results.

If youth use spikes again in 2019, the #FDA will have to consider additional regulatory steps, including action to require flavored pod-based e-cigs to come off the market until they have successfully completed the application process. These are the product kids are using.

The #FDA will not allow a generation of children to become addicted to nicotine. This effort will carry on after I leave the agency. These efforts are embedded in the public health DNA of this agency and strongly supported by @SecAzar and the White House. https://t.co/iUoGjPh5xY

Later this year we’ll also expand “The Real Cost” E-Cig Prevention Campaign to television to further reach youth about the dangers of e-cigarette use. I urge others to consider stepping up their efforts to educate and protect children as well. https://t.co/ekdn8rdjFM

If youth use rises again in 2019, whatever redeeming public health value this category of pod-based products may have for adult smokers, that potential benefit will be fully offset by the youth use. These products are on the market only out of enforcement discretion by #FDA.

E-cig use among kids is so widespread, so pervasive, that we risk addicting an entire generation of children on nicotine and watching the dramatic gains we’ve made in reducing smoking rates be reversed. https://t.co/JKrLfF1m09