If getting Americans to smoke less tobacco is a public health priority, Tony Abboud may be the most important advocate for the cause.  The executive director of the Vapor Technology Association (VTA) is leading a campaign to convince lawmakers that vaping can be a life-saving alternative for smokers.

The former litigator, state lobbyist and grassroots organizer has spent the last decade championing vapor products as the most effective tools to reduce the toll of smoking-related deaths.

“Vapor products represent one of the most significant public health innovations of our time,” Abboud says. “Their potential to help adult smokers transition away from combustible cigarettes cannot be overstated.”

A New Approach to Quit Smoking

Abboud’s fundamental belief is that the vape industry he represents provides smokers with a viable pathway to end their addictions to combustible tobacco, a contributor to cancer, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses.

“For decades, smokers have been told to quit cold turkey or use nicotine replacement therapies that have limited success rates,” he explains. “Vaping offers something different—a satisfying, less harmful alternative that addresses both the nicotine dependence and the behavioral habits tied to smoking.”

The rise of vaping, according to Abboud, comes from its ability to mimic the experience of smoking. Unlike traditional cigarettes, which burn tobacco to create smoke, vapor products heat a liquid—often containing nicotine—into a vapor. According to Abboud, the distinction is critical.

“We’re not talking about trading one harmful habit for another,” he says. "Vaping eliminates combustion, which is the primary source of toxins in cigarette smoke.”

Facing Down Industry Challenges

Despite its potential, the vaping industry faces regulatory hurdles and public skepticism, barriers that vape manufacturers and distributors are navigating.

Abboud points first to the complex regulatory landscape.

“In the U.S., we have two competing regulatory environments,” he says. “On one hand, the federal government imposes strict oversight through the FDA. On the other, states and localities often implement patchwork bans or excessive taxes that make it difficult for adult smokers to access these products.”

Abboud says the industry is also threatened by misinformation. He cites alarmist media reports and flawed studies as drivers of confusion.

“When people hear exaggerated claims about vaping being as dangerous as smoking, they lose trust in the product,” he says. “This misinformation not only deters smokers from making the switch, but also influences policymakers to enact restrictive regulations.”

But concerns about youth vaping have dominated the regulatory pressure. Lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have called for a federal ban on the products.

Abboud is quick to acknowledge the importance of preventing underage access but insists the industry is serious about limiting use of vapes by teens.

“We can and must strike a balance,” he emphasizes. “Protecting youth and providing adult smokers with alternatives are not mutually exclusive goals.”

Abboud points to recent government action against vaping and alternative nicotine products. He says the push to ban flavored e-cigarettes is not science-based. By comparison, he says President Trump's decision in 2019 not to ban flavored vape products but to raise the legal age for vaping to 21 helped reduce youth vaping while preserving access for adults who rely on the products as a tool to quit smoking.

A Focus on Research

The vape industry appears determined to win over the public and policy makers. Abboud and the VTA have focused on educating lawmakers about the science behind vaping.

“We rely on data and research,” he says. “Numerous studies from respected organizations, including Public Health England, have concluded that vaping is at least 95% less harmful than smoking. That’s a fact we cannot afford to ignore.”

In fact, the UK’s National Health Service cited vaping as a lifesaving alternative for smokers. A report from the country’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) stated, “vaping can be a useful tool in helping people quit smoking altogether,” and the Royal College of Physicians has said, “if the majority of smokers switched to e-cigarettes, there would be a dramatic reduction in tobacco-related disease and death.”

The VTA has also distributed its own news about industry efforts to curtail use of vape products by underage consumers. The concerns are easing with new data that indicates youth-vaping is on the decline.

Today, both vaping and cigarette smoking rates among US youth are falling rather than increasing. According to the Associated Press, 10% of U.S. high school students said they used vape products in 2024, down from 14% in 2023.

“Youth vaping is less of a problem today due to action by the vape industry to avoid marketing to minors,” according to Abboud.

At the same time, only 2% of U.S. high-schoolers smoke cigarettes today. That’s a huge drop from 35% in the early-2000s, according to a 2023 report by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, which VTA says is due in part to vape products.

A Vision for the Industry

According to Abboud, a larger effort should be made to inform U.S. smokers about vaping as an alternative.

“The confusion around vaping as a potentially healthier alternative to smoking is likely preventing what could be an even larger move away from smoking,” he says.

Looking ahead, Abboud says the public will be served best by a balanced regulatory approach.

“We need a regulatory framework that ensures product safety while preserving access for adult smokers,” he states.

Despite the misinformation and regulatory pressure, Abboud says he is optimistic about the potential for bipartisan support in Congress.

“When you strip away the politics, this is a public health issue,” he says. “The data speaks for itself—vaping saves lives,” he says. "My hope is that policymakers from both sides of the aisle will recognize this and work with us to create sensible regulations.”

For Abboud, “Every smoker who switches to vaping is a victory.”

“I’ve met countless people who tell me their lives have changed because of these products,” he says.

"They breathe better, feel healthier, and for the first time, believe they can quit smoking for good. That’s why I do this work.”