Key Points: 

• Nebraska’s vaping industry provided more than $169 million in economic activity in 2018 while generating 667 direct vaping-related jobs. Sales of disposables and prefilled cartridges in Nebraska exceeded $3.3 million in 2016.

• As of November 26, 2019, NDHHS has reported 11 cases of vaping-related lung illnesses, including one death. NDHHS does not include information on substances vaped. NDHHS earns an F for its reporting on vaping-related lung illnesses.

• In 2018, only 31 percent of Nebraska high school students reported using vapor products on at least one occasion in the 30 days prior to the survey. There is no information on frequent and/or daily use. More data is needed.  

• Only 2 percent of FDA retail compliance checks in Nebraska resulted in sales of e-cigarettes to minors from January 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019.

• Nebraska spends very little on tobacco prevention. In 2019, Nebraska dedicated only $2.6 million on tobacco control, or 2 percent of what the state received in tobacco settlement payments and taxes.