Key Points: 

• Rhode Island’s vaping industry provided more than $54 million in economic activity in 2018 while generating 271 direct vaping-related jobs. Sales of disposables and prefilled cartridges in Rhode Island exceeded $2.2 million in 2016.

• As of October 3, RIDH has reported two vaping-related lung illnesses, including age ranges. RIDH notes the role of THC in the outbreak, but does not provide thorough data. RIDH earns a C for its reporting on vaping-related lung illnesses.

• In 2019, 7.3 percent of Rhode Island high school students reported daily use of vapor products; nearly 70 percent reported not using e-cigarettes. Only 4.5 percent cited flavors as a reason for e-cigarette use.

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

• Rhode Island spends very little on tobacco prevention. In 2019, Rhode Island dedicated only $390,926 on tobacco control, or less than 1 percent of what the state received in tobacco settlement payments and taxes.