DENVER — All it takes is a few clicks to find YouTube videos of people trying out vape products they say they bought online. The problem is when these products are delivered to under-aged buyers.
"We know it's an issue. We know that there are federal laws that say young people shouldn't be able to buy these products online and yet they are still able to do so. It's a real problem that needs to be addressed," said Alison Reidmohr, Tobacco Communications Strategist for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
Reidmohr said Colorado is the worst in the nation with 27% of teens reporting that they vape. She said 20% of them said they get their products online.
"There is one study that showed that when the researcher asked young people to pose as teens and try to buy products online, they were able to do so successfully 94 percent of the time," Reidmohr said.
Even though websites like eBay display policies against vape sales and prohibit them, its pages are still filled with sellers offering delivery nationwide.
"We know that the systems they put in place aren't working and the reality is that these are the companies that profit when young people buy these products in the first place," Reidmohr said.
Plus, she said nuances in the law regarding jurisdiction across state lines complicates enforcement.
"That's something that our experts are really looking into that they're very concerned about," she said. "But, we're not quite sure of the solution yet."
Reidmohr said the best plan for parents right now is to talk their kids about the dangers of vaping and how they should not try to purchase vape products online.
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