Key Points: 

• Virginia’s vaping industry provided more than $632 million in economic activity in 2018 while generating 2,762 direct vaping-related jobs. Sales of disposables and prefilled cartridges in Virginia exceeded $12 million in 2016.

• As of January 7, 2020, VDH has reported 99 cases of vaping-related lung illnesses, including one death. VDH does not offer up-to-date information on age, gender or substances vaped. VDH earns a D for its reporting on vaping-related lung illnesses.

• In 2017, only 1.9 percent of Virginia high school students reported daily vapor use. Only 6.2 percent who had used e-cigarettes reported “flavors” as a reason for e-cigarette use. More data is needed.  

• Only 3 percent of FDA retail compliance checks in Virginia resulted in sales of e-cigarettes to minors from January 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019.

• Virginia spends very little on tobacco prevention. In 2019, Virginia dedicated only $10.8 million on tobacco control, or 3 percent of what the state received in tobacco settlement payments and taxes.