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Youth

E-Cigarette Use Among US Youth Remains a Major Public Health Concern

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The use of e-cigarettes among US middle and high school students remains a significant public health issue, with approximately 2.55 million students reported to have used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, according to a recent study published in the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The study, conducted by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Food and Drug Administration, used data from the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey and found that 14.1% of high school students and 3.3% of middle school students reported using e-cigarettes within the previous 30 days.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found that Puff Bar was the most commonly reported e-cigarette brand used by both middle and high school students (29.7%), followed by Vuse (23.6%), JUUL (22.0%), and others.
  • A large majority (84.9%) of current e-cigarette users chose flavored products, with fruit being the top preferred flavor.
  • The study noted that most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm the developing adolescent brain and increase the risk of future addiction to other drugs.
  • Both the CDC and the FDA have expressed concerns about the public health risk posed by e-cigarette use among youth and have emphasized the need for continued action to prevent youth from starting to use e-cigarettes and to help all youth who do use them to quit.
  • The study's findings highlight the need for continued efforts to regulate the e-cigarette industry and to prevent the sale of e-cigarettes to minors.

Statistics:

  • 2.55 million middle and high school students in the US currently use e-cigarettes.
  • 14.1% of high school students and 3.3% of middle school students reported using e-cigarettes within the previous 30 days.
  • 42.3% of e-cigarette users reported frequent use, and 27.6% reported daily use.
  • 84.9% of current e-cigarette users chose flavored products.

Sources:

  • US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
  • US Food and Drug Administration. (2022). Press release.

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