Durbin: Vaping companies mirroring tactics of Big Tobacco

Posted on September 17, 2019
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin at the McLean County Democratic Party headquarters in Downtown Bloomington. (Howard Packowitz/WJBC)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – Illinois’ senior U.S. Senator is calling for more education and stricter restrictions against vaping.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) is comparing vaping to Big Tobacco.

“If you remember Big Tobacco went after the kids, these vaping campaigns by Juul and these other companies, I’m seeing there are way too many kids involved in this,” Durbin told WJBC’s Scott Miller.

He added that a lack of education is adding to the rise of teens and pre-teens vaping.

“This stuff these kids are inhaling in their lungs, they think its just clouds of vapor. That’s bologna, its a chemical going into your lungs and its causing damage to a lot of young people,” Durbin said.

Last week, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported over 50 cases of respiratory illnesses related to vaping.

Durbin said more restrictions need to be placed on the industry. Durbin has said he supports the Trump administration’s proposal to ban most flavored vapes and e-cigarettes.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

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