>> Bonnie:THIS WEEK ON "TO THE CONTRARY": >> FIRST, A FEMALE REPUBLICAN STEPS IN TO CHALLENGE AOC.

>>> BEHIND THE HEADLINES: CIGARETTES AND VAPING: A GATEWAY TO TEENAGE DRUG ABUSE?

HELLO, I A.M. BONNIE ERBE.

WELCOME TO "TO THE CONTRARY," A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.

UP FIRST, THE LATEST ON THE SQUAD.

PRESIDENT TRUMP RAMPED UP HIS CLASH WITH THE SO-CALLED SQUAD THIS WEEK, THE FOUR FRESHMEN WOMEN OF COLOR U.S. HOUSE MEMBERS.

HIS TWEETS SEEMED TO DRIVE CHANTS OF "SEND HER BACK" AT A TRUMP RALLY IN NORTH CAROLINA.

BUT HE LATER DISAVOWED THE CHANT.

AT THAT RALLY HE FALSELY ACCUSED REP. ILHAN OMAR, ONE OF THE FOUR, PRAISING AL-QAEDA.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS SAY IN DOING SO, HE SERIOUSLY ENDANGERED OMAR.

ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ, ONE OF THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE SO-CALLED "SQUAD" IS NOW FACING TWO CHALLENGERS FOR HER SEAT IN 2020 AFTER TANGLING WITH HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI AND OTHER HOUSE LEADERS.

ONE OF THE CHALLENGERS, SCHERIE MURRAY IS A REPUBLICAN IMMIGRANT FROM JAMAICA.

BUSINESSWOMAN MURRAY SAYS AOC CARES MORE ABOUT HER CELEBRITY THAN HER DISTRICT.

TRUMP'S TWEETS AND PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE BEING CALLED RACIST, XENOPHOBIC AND MISOGYNIST.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES EVEN VOTED TO CONDEMN THE COMMENTS MINUS WITH FOUR REPUBLICANS AND AN INDEPENDENT JOINING THE DEMOCRATIC MAJORITY.

THREE OF THE WOMEN -- AOC, RASHID TLAIB, AND AYANNA PRESSLEY -- ARE NATIVE-BORN CITIZENS.

OMAR IS A NATURALIZED CITIZEN FROM SOMALIA.

WHAT YOU THINK IS DOING THE TEXT FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP?

IS IT THEIR GENDER OR THEIR RACE?

>> I THINK SOMETIMES WE CANNOT SEPARATE THEM.

WHAT IS CLEAR IS THE PRESIDENT DECIDED HE WILL RUN HIS 2016 PLAYBOOK IN 2020, AND THAT'S WHAT HE'S ATTACKING THESE WOMEN AND IT'S ON THEIR RACE AND ETHNICITY.

>> HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH RACE, ETHNICITY OR GENDER.

HAS TO DO WITH OUR HEARTS.

THEIR HEARTS HAVE NOT APPEARED TO BE IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE COUNTRY.

I'VE HAD PEOPLE SAY, OH, THEY ARE PRO-AMERICA.

I LOOK FOR STATEMENTS WITH HAVE SUPPORTED THE COUNTRY.

THEY ARE FEW AND FAR BETWEEN.

>> THE TROLLING PRESIDENT LOVES TO INSULT ABSOLUTELY EVERYBODY.

HE'S DEFINITELY DIMINISHING THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT.

WE KNOW HIS SPACE IS PASSIONATE TO LOCK HER UP FOR MINORITIES TO SEND THEM BACK TO THEIR COUNTRY.

>> I'M TRYING NOT TO LAUGH.

IT'S BECAUSE THEY ARE COMMUNISTS.

JUST AS DEMOCRATS HAVE PROMISED, PROMISED TO INCLUDE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FROM WITHIN.

THOSE FOUR WOMEN ARE MEMBERS OF THE JUSTICE OF DEMOCRATS WHO WERE SOCIALISTS b HAT IS IT, SOCIALIST, DEMOCRAT/ SOCIALIST/COMMUNIST.

AT THE END OF THE DAY THEY AREb ÃÃ>> ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ HAS SAID THAT SHE'S A DEMOCRATIC SOCIALIST.

>> BERNIE SANDERS, OF COURSE, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THEY ARE ALL PART OF THAT GROUP P. AT THE END OF THE DAY, THERE WERE 34 OTHER WOMEN WHO WERE ELECTED TO CONGRESS THIS YEAR.

20 OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR ELECTED.

THEY ARE NOT THE ONLY FOUR.

>> THIS IS THE REPUBLICANS TRYING TO BRING US BACK TO THE COLD WAR.

THE FACT THAT WE LIVE IN A COUNTRY, WE HAVE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND EXPLORING POLITICAL IDEAS.

WHAT THEY ARE DOING IS TRYING TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF INEQUITIES IN THIS COUNTRY IN TERMS OF WAGES, IN TERMS OF HEALTHCARE.

ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ AND TO TALIB, THEY ARE ARTICULATE AND THOUGHTFUL ABOUT THOSE ISSUES AND THAT'S WHY THEY FEEL PASSIONATE ABOUT AND THAT'S WHY THEY FEEL PASSIONATE AGAINST FIGHTING AGAINST RACISM WHICH IS WHAT WE SEE COMING OUT OF THE PRESIDENCY AND PERSONALLY PRESIDENT TRUMP WITH THE WAGES b ¦¦ >> WHY WOULD DEMOCRATS EMBRACE THE LABEL, SOCIALIST?

IS THERE ANYBODY -- [CROSS TALK] >> WEIGHT.

WHY WOULD ANYONE IN THIS COUNTRY LIVE IN RUSSIA THINKING IT WAS A BETTER PLACE?

>> OR VENEZUELA.

>> ONLY ONE PERSON AMONG THOSE FOUR -- b MONG DEMOCRATS EMBRACE THE NEW TERM DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISM.

I THINK TO CONFLATE ON SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM, THEY ARE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SYSTEMS .

NEVER MIND THAT.

WHAT IS REALLY CLEAR IS THE PRESIDENT HAS DECIDED REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS DECIDED THAT THEY WANT TO ENGAGE IN BOTH RACE BAITING AND REDBAITING IN THIS CAMPAIGN IN ORDER TO WIN AN ELECTION.

I THINK IT WILL TURN OFF THOSE SUBURBAN COLLEGE-EDUCATED WHITE WOMEN VOTERS WHO TURNED IN 2018 , AND IT WILL UNIFY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BEHIND AN AGENDA THAT IS INCLUSIVE OF ALL OF THE b ¦¦ >> A LOT OF EXPERTS, REPUBLICANS, ARE SAYING THIS HAS VIRTUALLY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WOMEN OR THE FACT THAT THEY ARE OF COLOR AND MORE TO DO ABOUT GINNING UP THE BASE.

HIS BASE HAS BEEN BOARD RECENTLY.

IT HAS BEEN LIKE A MONTH OF -- >> IT'S NOT b ¦¦ >> ISSUE AFTER ISSUE OF GETTING THE RED MEDIATORS OUT THERE SAYING, YEAH, LET'S GET OUT THE IMMIGRANTS.

>> IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT HIS BASE.

IT'S PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY THAT ARE SICK AND TIRED OF LISTENING TO THE DEMOCRATS TO THIS COUNTRY DOWN.

ALSO TO THE PRESIDENT DOWN.

HE COULD SAY THE SKY IS BLUE AND THEY SAY, SEE!

HE'S ELIMINATING ALL COLORS OF THE RAINBOW.

HE IS A RACIST.

THAT'S THE WAY THEY b ¦¦ >> A LOT OF PEOPLE THINK SHE'S THE ONE TEARING THE TECH COUNTRY DOWN.

>> NO.

THE WAY THE MEDIA COVERS IT AND THE DEMOCRATS -- [CROSS TALK] >> HE IS A JINGOISTIC KIND OF PATRIOT.

I AM NOT A DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN.

I HATE BOTH PARTIES EQUALLY FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, BUT THE FACT IS NO TRUE PATRIOTS THINK HE IS A PATRIOT.

IT'S LIKE LET'S GO WAVE THE FLAG AND PLAY THE DRUM.

THAT DOES NOT MAKE YOU A PATRIOT.

NEVER SERVED IN THE MILITARY b ¦¦ >> VICTIMIZATION.

ALL OF A SUDDEN, WHITE AMERICANS ARE THE VICTIMS AND THAT'S WHAT TRUMP IS SAYING.

>> OH, MY GOSH!

>> KNOCK IT OFF.

>> THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING.

WHAT I SEE IS CLEARLY HE HAS A COALITION OF WHITE SUPREMACISTS AND CHRISTIAN CONSERVATIVES, AMONG OTHERS, AND THAT'S HIS COALITION.

HE NEEDS TO MOBILIZE THE COALITION IN ORDER TO WIN THE PRESIDENCY, BECAUSE HE HAS REFUSED TO HAVE A POLITICAL STRATEGY THAT'S INCLUSIVE.

HIS POLITICAL STRATEGY IS ABOUT HIS BASE AND MORE ABOUT ISOLATING THE BASIC.

WHAT HE IS DOING WITH RACE BAITING AND SEND THEM BACK IS ALL ABOUT IS BAKED.

>> I'M SORRY.

THAT IS HARD TO LISTEN TO.

WE ARE HIS BASE.

>>.

>> NO LAUGHING, THAT IS HIGH SCHOOL.

>> BUT THE ISSUE IS, AND I APOLOGIZE, BONNIE, BECAUSE IT'S A LAUGHINGb T'S HYSTERICAL.

QUITE FRANKLY, FOR SOMEONE WHO -- AND DONNA KNOWS THIS.

DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS BEENb OU MENTIONED BEFORE.

THEY HAVE NOT SUPPORTED BLACK WOMEN FOR A WHILE.

SHE SHOULD BE THE SENDER RIGHT NOW, IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN HRIS VAN HOLLEN, WHEN THEY RAN IN 2016, THAT'S ONE OF THE REASONS WHY I LEFT.

I TOOK A PICTURE WITH DONNA AND HE UNINVITED ME TO VOLUNTEER BECAUSE THEY KNEW HOW IMPACTFUL THAT ONE PICTURE WAS FOR THE BLACK WOMEN VOTE.

FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO BLAME IT ON TRUMP, YOUR ISSUES ARE WHAT MADE SOMEONE LIKE ME A D.C.

NATIVE, BORN AND RAISED, COLLEGE IVY LEAGUE, LAW SCHOOL, BUSINESS SCHOOL GRADUATE BECOME A TRANSPORTER.

DESPITE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT -- > BUT YOU ARE -- >> BUT YOU ARE SAYING 50 PERCENT OF ALL BLACK DEMOCRATS ARE BECOMING REPUBLICANS?

NOTHING LIKE THAT.

>> INDEPENDENTS OR THEY ARE BECOMING SOCIALISTS.

THEY -- OUR GENERATION CAME UP b IND YOU, 9/11 WAS A FORMATIVE POINT FOR ME.

I WAS ALREADY 21.

FOR SOMEONE LIKE ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ, SHE WAS BORN IN 1989.

SHE NEVER SAW COMMUNISM.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, THIS COMMUNISM OR SOCIALISM IS ONE STEP AWAY FROM EACH THER.

THE BEST PEOPLE I HAVE MET ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL WERE PEOPLE FROM FORMER COMMUNIST BLOCKS WHO ARE LIKE, I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE JOKING LIKE THEY ARE ACCEPTING HER.

>> LOOK, THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY b INCE I WAS INJECTED IN THIS.

I'M A DEMOCRAT.

WE SHARE VALUES THAT ARE INCLUSIVE AND IT'S TRUE, DO WE HAVE THESE FIGHTS AND BATTLES WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY?

ABSOLUTELY.

WE EMBRACE THAT.

>> SO TO REPUBLICANS.

>> THERE IS NO PARTY THAT DOESN'T.

>> BUT WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP IS DOING RIGHT NOW IS HE STARTED HIS INAUGURATION TALKING ABOUT THE AMERICAN CARNAGE.

HE IS THE ONE WHO IS TEARING THIS COUNTRY APART, THE ONE WHO IS INJECTING RACE IN A WAY THAT IS SO DIVISIVE IN THE COUNTRY.

AND I THINK THAT YOU CANNOT BE A PRESIDENT HE WAS SUPPOSED TO UNIFY PEOPLE WITH THE KIND OF LANGUAGE HE USES, AND ATTACKS ON WOMEN, ATTACKS ON THESE WOMEN OF COLOR.

IT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

>> WHAT ABOUT THEIR DISRESPECT OF THE HOUSE SPEAKER?

LET'S GET TO THAT ISSUE.

>> LOOK, I THINK IT'S TOUGH TO COME INTO CONGRESS WHEN YOU HAVE BEEN THESE LONG-TERM INCUMBENTS AND THERE IS ANIMOSITY AND STUFF.

I THINK THEY NEED TO STEP BACK FROM THAT.

I DON'T THINK THE ACCUSATIONS ABOUT HER, THAT SHE WAS SOMEHOW NOT SUPPORTIVE OF WOMEN OF COLOR IS AN ACCURATE ONE.

LANGUAGE REALLY DOES MATTER.

SHE HAS A LOT TO GAIN FROM THEM AND THEIR NATIONAL VOICE.

THEY HAVE A LOT TO LEARN FROM HER AS WELL.

I HOPE THAT THEY CAN SIT DOWN AND BRING THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO SOME UNITY.

>> I SAW A POLL OF ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ IN MARCH.

FIRST OF ALL, HER DISTRICT IS ABOUT 49 PERCENT HISPANIC.

SHE CERTAINLY GOT, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST HALF THE DISTRICT ON HER SIDE TO BEGIN WITH.

SECOND, SO b UT SHE HAD APPROVAL RATINGS AT THAT TIME ABOUT 60 SOMETHING PERCENT, 65 PERCENT.

THEN THERE WAS ONE IN APRIL AFTER SHE SHOED AMAZON OUT OF HER DISTRICT.

PICKED 100,000 JOBS OUT OF QUEENS?

SHE WAS NOT SO POPULAR ANYMORE.

BUT THAT WAS APRIL.

HOW ARE THEY RESPONDING TO ALL OF THIS, WHAT SHE IS DOING NOW AND HOW MUCH OF A SHOT WOULD YOU GIVE SCHERIE MURRAY?

>> RIGHT NOW, THE POLLING FOR ALL FOUR OF THEM IS AWFUL.

THEIR APPROVAL RATINGS BY SOME b ¦¦ >> AS OF WHAT DATE?

I COULD FIND LAST WEEK, APRIL POLL FOR AOC.

>> THE MORE CURRENT ONES.

AS OF LAST WEEK, A FIGURE THAT REALLY STANDS OUT b ¦¦ >> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT IN THEIR DISTRICTS OR NATIONALLY?

>> NATIONALLY.

>> I MEAN IN THE DISTRICT.

>> THE LAST POLLINGb }CUSTOMá I GREW UP IN MANHATTAN.

>> THE WAY BLUE NEW YORK VIEWS THE WORLD IS VERY DIFFERENT ABOUT HOW RED OKLAHOMA VIEWS THE WORLD.

YOU KNOW, BUT IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT OKLAHOMA THINKS ABOUT HER.

IT MATTERS WHAT NEW YORK THINKS ABOUT HER.

>> THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT POINTS: NUMBER ONE, NOT A PARTY OF WHITE SUPREMACISTS .

MEDIAN LEFT GIVE THE PREMISES'S OXYGEN, NOT DONALD TRUMP.

STOP IT OR I WILL START SAYING DEMOCRATS ARE ALL COMMUNISTS.

THAT'S THE EQUIVALENT ATTACK.

SO THAT'S NUMBER ONE.

NE.

THAT REALLY MAKES ME ANGRY WHEN THEY TRY TO WRAP US IN THATb }CUSTOMá BUT LET'S GET BACK TO SCHERIE MURRAY.

>> THEY ARE VERY ANGRY AT HER OVER SHOEING AWAY THE JOBS BECAUSE IT DIRECTLY IMPACTED.

THEY DON'T LIKE THE FACT -- SHOULD NOT SPEND TIME ON THEIR ISSUES.

SHE SHOULD SPEND TIME IN GETTING HERSELF ON INSTAGRAM AND MEDIA AND TALK SHOWS.

IT'S ALL ABOUT HER.

THE POLLING I HAVE SEEN, HER APPROVAL RATING IS DOWN AS LOW AS 25 PERCENT.

OMAR'S -- >> YOU ARE TALKING NATIONALLY.

IN HER DISTRICT.

>> AFTER AMAZON HAD GONE DOWN.

NATIONALLY, I THINK IT'S DOWN IN THE 22 PERCENT OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

I WILL SAY THIS FOR OMAR: AND THE SWING DISTRICTS WHICH REPUBLICANS ARE LOOKING AT, HER POLLING IS 9 PERCENT.

I MEAN, TRUMP, WHEN HE CALLED THEM OUT, HE UNDERSTOOD THEY ARE NOT POPULAR BECAUSE THEY ARE SEEN AS ANTI-AMERICAN.

>> LAST WORD?

>> ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ IS A HERO IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY.

E THINK SHE IS BRILLIANT, WE THINK SHE IS SUBSTANTIVE.

LOSS OF AMAZON IN NEW YORK CITY WAS NOT JUST HER DOING.

THERE WHERE A LOT OF FORCES THAT PULLED THEM OUT.

>> ALSO AMONG YOUNG WOMEN AND MEN.

>> YES.

WHEN YOU SEE HER IN HEARINGS, SHE IS BRILLIANT.

SHE CARES ABOUT HER JOB.

YOU MAY WANT TO SAY, AND HERE REPUBLICANS BECAUSE A DEBATE REPUBLICANS AND MANY OTHER SETTINGS SAYING SHE IS DUMB AND STUPID AND SELF-CENTERED, BUT THAT IS NOT WHAT HER CONSTITUENTS SEE.

THEY SEE HER WORKING HARD FOR THEIR INTEREST.

HER REELECTION IS LIKELY.

>> LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.

>>> BEHIND THE HEADLINES: SMOKING AND CIGARETTES AS GATEWAY DRUGS FOR TEENS.

MOST PARENTS DON'T KNOW THAT CIGARETTES ARE A GATEWAY DRUG WHICH OPENS THE DOOR TO ABUSE OF HARDER SUBSTANCES.

EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT IT IS BECOMING INCREASINGLY CLEAR THAT VAPING, NOW MUCH MORE POPULAR AMONG TEENS THAN SMOKING TOBACCO, IS MORE ADDICTIVE AND A MORE EFFECTIVE GATEWAY DRUG.

>> Madi Langor:I STARTED USING WHEN I WAS A FRESHMAN IN HIGH SCHOOL.

IT WAS OFFERED TO ME BY MY BEST FRIEND.

I TRUSTED HER.

SHE WAS A VARSITY ATHLETE.

SO I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, SHE'S HEALTHY.

OF COURSE THIS CAN'T BE SOMETHING BAD SHE IS OFFERING ME.

IT WAS CAPTAIN CRUNCH FLAVORED AND CAPTAIN CRUNCH IS MY FAVORITE CEREAL.

SO I STARTED USING E-CIGARETTES AND AT ONE POINT, GOT MY OWN, AND BECAME ADDICTED.

AND WHEN I WAS 16 YEARS OLD, I QUIT USING.

>> Bonnie:MADI LANGOR WAS ONE OF THE LUCKY ONES, ABLE TO KICK THE VAPING HABIT AS WELL AS ANOTHER SUBSTANCE.

BUT TEEN SMOKING, THE SCOURGE OF MOST PARENTS OF TEENS, HAS BEEN REPLACED BY A MUCH MORE POTENT ENEMY: TEEN VAPING.

EACH CARTRIDGE FOR THE VAPING DEVICE CONTAINS AS MUCH NICOTINE AS A WHOLE PACK OF CIGARETTES.

BUT IT'S FLAVORED LIKE CANDY, SO KIDS THINK IT IS SAFE TO SMOKE THE WHOLE THING.

>> Matthew Meyers:THE CONCERN ABOUT E-CIGARETTES IS THAT KIDS WHO WOULD NEVER USE CIGARETTES THINK E-CIGARETTES ARE COOL.

THERE IS A DIRECT RESULT BETWEEN 2017 AND 2018 WE SAW SUCH A METEORIC RISE IN THE E-CIGARETTES THAT TODAY THERE ARE MORE KIDS USING THE NICOTINE PRODUCTS THAN THERE WERE TEN YEARS AGO.

WHEN YOU ADD E-CIGARETTES TO THE NUMBER OF KIDS WHO ARE USING CIGARETTES IN THE SMALLER NUMBER OF KIDS WHO USE CIGARS, THE TOTAL NUMBER OF KIDS TODAY USING NICOTINE-BASED PRODUCTS IS AROUND 27 PERCENT.

THAT IS A DRAMATIC RISE FROM JUST TWO YEARS AGO.

>> ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT'S 2016 NATIONAL HOUSEHOLD SURVEY ON DRUG ABUSE, YEARS OF MARKETING AIMED AT PREVENTING OR STOPPING KIDS FROM SMOKING WAS VERY EFFECTIVE.

>> Matthew Meyers:THE DRAMATIC DECLINE IN CIGARETTE USE IS A DIRECT RESULT OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES AND MARKETING.

INCREASING THE PRICE OF TOBACCO PRODUCTS DECREASING THE PLACES WHERE PEOPLE CAN SMOKE INDOORS SO SMOKING IS NO LONGER A SOCIAL NORM.

ELIMINATING THE IMAGES THAT TOBACCO COMPANIES USE TO MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE TO YOUNG PEOPLE.

SOLID, STRONG PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN SO KIDS NOT ONLY UNDERSTAND THE RISK OF SMOKING, BUT THEY UNDERSTAND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE TOBACCO COMPANIES WERE MANIPULATING THEM TO SMOKE.

SO WHAT WE SEE IS A DROP IN SMOKING AMONG KIDS THAT IS ACTUALLY GREATER THAN A CHANGE IN BEHAVIOR OF OTHER PRODUCTS.

>> Bonnie: FACT-BASED MARKETING HAD CUT THE RATE OF CHILD SMOKING TO SINGLE DIGITS.

BUT THE HOUSEHOLD SURVEY ALSO MADE CLEAR THE CONNECTION BETWEEN NICOTINE AND OTHER DRUGS.

IT SHOWED TWO-THIRDS WHO HAD EVER SMOKED WERE SEVEN TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE TRIED MARIJUANA AND COCAINE.

THEY WERE ALSO 14 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE TRIED CRACK AND 16 TIMES MORE LIKELY TO HAVE TRIED HEROIN.

VAPING IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD.

THERE ARE NO DATA YET ON WHETHER IT IS A GATEWAY DRUG.

IT CERTAINLY APPEARS TO BE SO: >> Dr. Nora Volkow: SINCE THERE HAS BEEN NO PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN AGAINST VAPING, PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY TEENS, DON'T YET KNOW HOW MUCH STRONGER IT IS THAN PLAIN CIGARETTES.

>> SINCE THERE HAS NOW BEEN PUBLIC EDUCATION AGAINST VAPING, PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY TEENS, DON'T KNOW HOW STRONG IT IS THAN TOBACCO CIGARETTES.> Dr. Nora Volkow:WE'VE SEEN EVIDENCE OF TOXICITY ASSOCIATED FROM PEOPLE JUST TAKING ONE OF THESE VAPING DEVICES AND CONSUMING IT AS IF IT WHERE A CIGARETTE.

THAT ENDS UP IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

SO YOU ARE DELIVERING VERY, VERY EFFECTIVELY VERY HIGH DOSES OF NICOTINE.

>> Bonnie: THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION HAS THE POWER TO REGULATE VAPING MARKETING, JUST AS IT DOES FOR CIGARETTE SALES.

BUT IT POSTPONED REVIEWING THE PRODUCTS FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

ADVOCACY GROUPS, INCLUDING THE CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO-FREE KIDS, SUED THE AGENCY SAYING HAD SHIRKED ITS LEGAL DUTY AND A FEDERAL COURT AGREED IN MAY.

VAPING COMPANY JUUL LABS CLAIMS NOT TO, BUT MARKETS TO KIDS USING SOCIAL MEDIA.

MADI LANGOR SAYS KIDS NEED ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF INFORMATION.

>> Madi Langor: A LOT OF KIDS IN 2016 TOOK A SURVEY AND THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT A LOT OF THE E-CIGARETTES THAT THEY WERE USING HAD NICOTINE EVEN IN THEM.

SO I THINK THERE'S JUST A LOT OF MISINFORMATION THAT WE NEED TO CORRECT WITH EDUCATORS AND PARENTS AND YOUTH.

>> Bonnie:PICTURE SIA, YOU WORK FOR THE CAMPAIGN.

IT IS AMAZING TO ME THAT THE FDA HAD COMPLETE POWER BECAUSE OF THE REGULATION IT HAD WON LONG AGO FOR REGULATING TOBACCO THAT IT COULD HAVE REGULATED IT THESE ADS PRETTY MUCH OUT OF EXISTENCE OR CERTAINLY CHANGED THEM SO MUCH THAT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN MUCH LESS EFFECTIVE THAN THEY ARE AND JUST SAT THERE AND DID NOTHING.

WHAT IS WRONG WITH HIS AGENCY?

>> Patricia Sosa: IT'S A TERRIBLE SITUATION AS THE SEGMENT SAID.

LAST YEAR, KIDS CONSUMING E-CIGARETTES WENT UP TO 78 PERCENT, 3.6 MILLION KIDS SMOKING, CONSUMING THESE PRODUCTS.

MOST POPULAR IS JUULS, A USB THAT YOU SMOKE WITH A PORT THAT CONTAINS CONCENTRATED NICOTINE, EQUIVALENT OF A WHOLE PACK OF CIGARETTES.

THE REASON WHY THEY ARE POPULAR IS BECAUSE THESE FLAVOR.

I DID NOT KNOW THIS, AND LEARNED YOU CAN b ÃÃ50,000 DIFFERENT FLAVORS, IMAGINE THAT.

AND THE KIDS ACTUALLY b ÃÃ SURVEYS SHOW THEY ARE NOT THINKING THERE SMOKING'S NICOTINE BUT FRUITS, FLAVORS.

MY ORGANIZATION, IT'S LEADING THE POSITION TO BAN THESE PRODUCTS.

>> LET'S GET BACK TO THE FDA IN ACTION.

THEY LOST A COURT SUIT RECENTLY.

THEY WERE SUED BY THE CAMPAIGN AND OTHER b ¦¦ >> AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, AMERICAN LUNG SOCIETY, AMERICAN HERTZ ASSOCIATION.

>> WILL THEY START REGULATING NOW?

>> IT WAS IN THE FIRST CIRCUIT THE RULING WAS THEY HAVE TO SPEED UP THE REGULATION OF THIS PRODUCT.

THE FDA IS NOT APPEALING THE POSITION SO FAR.

WE BELIEVE THEY WILL TRY TO COMPLY POINT I THINK IT'S AROUND 10 MONTHS THAT THEY HAVE TO ISSUE THE NEW REGULATIONS.

THEY CLEARLY HAVE THE AUTHORITY AND ACTUALLY RELEASED WHAT THEY CALL THE DEEMING ROLE, WHICH IS, YES, WE DO HAVE LEGAL AUTHORITY OVER THESE PRODUCTS.

THE PROBLEM WAS UNDER OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, IT GAVE THEM FOUR YEARS TO ISSUE THE ACTUAL REGULATIONS.

WHEN TRUMP TOOK OVER, HE GIVE THEM ADDITIONAL YEARS GOOD UNTIL 2022 AND IN THE MEANTIME, COMPLETELY UNREGULATED.

THEY ARE ALLOWED TO ADVERTISE, I'M SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SURPRISED TO SEE THE ADS ON RADIO AND TELEVISION.

THEY CLAIM IT'S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND b ÃÃTHE CLAIMED THESE ARE SAFER.

THEY CLAIM THAT THESE WILL BE HELPFUL FORCE SENSATION BUT THAT IS NOT HOW TO USE THESE PRODUCTS.

POTENTIALLY, TECHNICALLY SPEAKING, YES, COULD BE THAT BUT THAT'S NOT AT ALL WHAT WE HAVE SEEN IN THE MARKETS.

THAT'S WHY THE SEE THE ACADEMICS.

>> IF -- DOESN'T THAT MAKE IT 20 TIMES AS ADDICTIVE?

>> HIGHLY, HIGHLY -- >> SENDING PEOPLE TO THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE SMOKING ONE CIGARETTE BUT ARE ACTUALLY SMOKING 20 CIGARETTES.

YOU WORK A LOT WITH GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

IS THERE ANY OUT THERE AS INEFFECTIVE AS THIS ONE?

>> I WOULD SAY ON THISb HEY ARE BEHIND THE CURVE WHERE THEY NEED TO BE.

WHEN TRUMP IS REELECTED IN 2020 0, IF THEY CAN STOP CALLING HIM A RACIST LONG ENOUGH, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING YOU CAN GET HIS SUPPORT ON.

HE DOESN'T DRINK, SMOKE OR BELIEVE IN PUTTING FOREIGN SUBSTANCES LIKE THAT IN HIS BODY.

HE PROBABLY COULD WORK A BRIDGE TO GET MORE REGULATION BUT YOU HAVE TO STOP CALLING HIM NAMES LONG ENOUGH.

>> LET'S SWITCH TOPICS.

[LAUGHTER] >> GET BACK TO THE VAPING.

>> LOOK, IT'S AN INDUSTRY THAT HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO HAVE FREE REIGN.

WHERE IT'S DIFFERENT IS THAT IT'S REALLY AN INDUSTRY THAT IS TARGETING TEENAGERS.

LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND TEEN SMOKING HAD COME DOWN.

NOW IT'S UP TO THE ROOF WITH THESE E-CIGARETTES.

I THINK THE INDUSTRY FIGURED OUT THAT THEY HAD A WHOLE NEW MARKETPLACE IN CONSUMER BASE TO GO OUT.

THEY DID.

THEY COULD DO IT WITHOUT ANYONE PROVIDING ANY KIND OF CHECKS.

I WOULD LOVE TO SEE SOME MORE CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT TO LOOK AT WHAT THE BREAKDOWN WAS SO THAT IT DOES NOT HAPPEN.

>> BY THE QUESTION IF I COULD QUICKLY ASK: WHO ARE THE SOCIAL INFLUENCES IN DOING VAPING THAT IS MAKING IT SO COOL FOR KIDS?

>> I THINK THAT ISb OCIAL MEDIA, INFLUENCERS, YOU ARE PROBABLY RIGHT.

THE PRODUCT ITSELF IS ADDICTIVE AND EASY TO HIDE.

IT'S NOT A PRODUCT THAT ADULTS ARE FAMILIAR WITH.

YOU CAN SMOKE b HAT THEY DO, THE JUULS COMPANIES, MOST FAMOUS AND POPULAR IS JUUL, HAD THESE CLOTHING LINE THAT YOU CAN PULL THE JUUL INSIDE YOUR JACKET AND CONSUME IT LIKE THIS.

YOU CAN EVEN BE IN CLASS AND THE TEACHER WILL NOT KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING.

>> WAIT A SECOND.

I HAVE SEEN THEM EXHALE, LIKE A WHOLE CLOUD.

>> IT'S A VERY DIFFERENT KIND OF PRODUCT.

YES, MOST E-CIGARETTES YOU SEE HAVE THE CLOUD, WITH THE CALL VAPING, ALTHOUGH I CALL IT SMOKE.

IT'S CALLED AEROSOL BECAUSE IT HAS CHEMICALS.

JUUL, DIFFERENT PRODUCT.

THERE IS LESS RELEASE OF THE SMOKE.

THAT IS THE ONE THAT IS THE MOST PERNICIOUS.

>> I THINK IT'S ANOTHER EXAMPLE OF MIND ALTERATION.

CHILDREN, KIDS, ADULTS OR WHAT HAVE YOU, UNFORTUNATELY, ARE ADDICTED SOCIETY.

IF YOU ARE NOT ABSTAINING, YOU ARE NOT WATCHING WHAT YOU CONSUME, THIS IS THE LAST TOOL.

WHO ARE THE LOBBYISTS THAT HAVE PROTECTED THIS INDUSTRY FROM OVERSIGHT FOR SO LONG?

THAT'S MY QUESTION.

>> WE HAVE UNITY?

>> CAN I SAY SOMETHING?

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT MUCH OPPOSITION FROM FDA.

I'M HOPEFUL, BECAUSE WE AGREE WITH YOU THAT TRUMP DOES NOT DRINK OR SMOKE -- >> AND STOP CALLING HIM NAMES.

>> NOW THEY ARE b VERYTHING GOES ACCORDINGLY.

THEY WILL NOT APPEAL IT AND LET IT BE REGULATED.

SO, YES, THIS COULD POTENTIALLY BE AN ISSUE IN WHICH WE CAN SEE GOOD OUTCOME FROM THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> DONNA?

>> Donna: GOOD THING WE CAN AGREE ON THAT.

THE FACT IS THE FDA, PEOPLE ARGUE ON A WHOLE RANGE OF THINGS THAT THEY JUST TAKE TOO LONG TO COME TO THEIR DECISION-MAKING.

SO EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE THE EXTENDED TIME PERIOD, IF THEY ARE ABLE TO SPEED UP THE REGULATION, IT'S AN INDUSTRY WE CAN GET CONTROL OF.

>> GO WITH ALL GOOD SPEED.

THAT'S IT FOR THIS EDITION.

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.

WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK, TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.