Mothers' Views on the PROTECT Act and Youth Vaping Recommendations
April 30, 2024
Rapid Poll

In April 2024, Count on Mothers examined mothers' views on federal recommendations for regulating e-cigarettes — including provisions from the PROTECT Act and the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations' Youth Vaping Epidemic Report — a study requested by the Subcommittee, led by Senator Richard Blumenthal. Drawing on a nationally representative sample of mothers across regions and the political spectrum, the survey captured firsthand experience with youth vaping and access to e-cigarette products. Mothers showed strong cross-partisan support for strengthened federal research, regulation, and enforcement to reduce youth e-cigarette use.

Related themes:

Family Economic Security and Cost Pressures

Shared Priorities and Cross-Partisan Alignment Among Mothers

  • 78% of mothers support authorizing the CDC to invest $500 million over five years in research and education to reduce youth e-cigarette use.
  • Broad cross-partisan agreement on restricting flavored e-cigarettes that promote youth initiation — support ranged from 86% among very conservative mothers to over 97% among very liberal mothers.
  • 87%–91% of mothers support updating federal marketing regulations to reflect current advertising and promotional practices for age-restricted products.
  • Over 80% of mothers support Congressional assessment of social media age-gating tools and stronger company-level protections for minors.
  • Mothers identified specific access concerns: easy access to vaping products, inadequate ID checks, and purchases through adults — alongside calls for stronger education and enforcement.

Source: Count on Mothers, Mothers' Views on the PROTECT Act and Youth Vaping Recommendations, April 2024. Nationally representative survey of U.S. mothers, n=595, weighted across political ideology and region. Study requested by the U.S. Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, led by Senator Richard Blumenthal. Research led by a PhD-credentialed researcher and an MPH data scientist.

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Methodology
Count on Mothers conducts nationally representative research with U.S. mothers, weighted to reflect the population and reported in aggregate. Research is led by a PhD + MPH team. Findings have informed policy, industry, and media, and entered the Congressional Record on childcare, paid leave, and technology policy.
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