By: Beverly Kelley
Kelley has been a partner in education with the schools in the past as well as a corporate sponsor with both high schools. She has also been a mentor in the school system. She has remained heavily involved in the community and with local and State politics.
Parents of middle and high school students have a lot to worry about when they send their kids to school. There is no shortage of real risks despite the best efforts of teachers and administrators to maintain a peaceful and healthy learning environment. Over the past few years, the problem of illegal disposable vapes has become front of mind. While the overall rate of vaping among teenagers continues to decline, illegal vapes smuggled from China continue to pose a stubborn and persistent threat. Many schools have responded by installing vape detectors, hiring school resource officers, and implementing anti-vaping education programs. However, the resources and time spent will keep going to waste if we are unable to take decisive action to address the root of the problem.
Despite a decline in high school vaping rates, illegal products remain the top choice among teenagers. Elf Bar, an unauthorized Chinese-made vape, has been the most popular brand among students for three consecutive years, according to the National Youth Tobacco Study (NYTS). The latest NYTS data reveals that an alarming 88% of teen users prefer fruit or candy flavors, even though the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only authorized specific menthol or tobacco-flavored devices. The prevalence and popularity of illicit, youth-oriented products highlight the disconnect between the FDA and our current administration.
Since 2022, the FDA’s efforts—mainly issuing warnings and fines—have proven woefully inadequate. This failure to control the influx of illegal products has allowed opportunists to flood the market with dangerous items. While authorized vapes are manufactured in supervised, regulated facilities, illegal vapes from China are manufactured with unknown materials and ingredients.
States like Florida, Louisiana, and Alabama—along with 11 others, have been proactive toward addressing the FDA’s failures through legislation that enhances state enforcement. Product directories that identify vapes that are authorized for sale shine bright sunlight that informs a functioning market. This enables adult smokers to find less harmful alternatives while protecting children by thwarting the illegal market. Last February, a vapor product directory was authored by Rep. Gaines (R-Athens). Despite a passing nearly unanimously in the House, the session ended before it could receive a Senate vote. The bill would have enhanced our state’s enforcement for identifying and removing illegal or counterfeit products that appeal to young users.
This issue remains crucial for many people who would like to see our state overcome the crisis created by the FDA. Testimony from local law enforcement, school staff, and concerned parents at the September study committee on the vapor directory—coupled with my firsthand experience as a school board member —underscores the urgent need for Georgia to act.
The FDA’s efforts have proven woefully inadequate, placing children and teens at considerable risk. While future administrations must address their agency’s shortcomings, a statewide vapor product directory is essential for safeguarding our youth from illegal vaping products. Georgia can lead where federal efforts have faltered, paving the way for a safer, healthier future for our children and schools.
Mrs. Beverly Kelley has lived in Barrow County since 1992 and was previously elected to the Barrow County School Board in 1999 and served two terms. She was re-elected in 2019. She and her husband Clay have been married 37 years and have three grown children (one is an educator) and three grandchildren.
