Youth e-cig use drops to lowest level in a decade
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Half a million fewer teens said they used e-cigarettes this year compared to last, according to an annual federal survey that credited a crackdown on Elf Bar products and other enforcement efforts.
Why it matters: It's the lowest level in a decade and a signal of progress in efforts to curb youth tobacco use, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday.
By the numbers: More than 1.6 million middle and high school students told researchers they currently use e-cigarettes, down from 2.1 million last year, per the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey.
- 7.8% of high school students and 3.5% of middle school students reported current e-cigarette use, per the survey, which polled nearly 30,000 students from 283 schools beween January 22 and May 22.
- Among those who currently used e-cigarettes, 38% reported frequent use and 26% reported daily use.
Zoom in: The most commonly used kinds of vaping devices used by teens was Elf Bar (36%), followed Breeze (20%), Mr. Fog (16%), Vuse (4%), and JUUL (3%).
- But officials noted a "substantive drop" in the use of Elf Bar products, which aren't authorized by the FDA and have been the object of agency enforcement actions since early 2023, including more than 1,000 warning letters and 240 fines to retailers.
- 88% of teens said they used a flavored product including fruit (63%), candy (33%), and mint (25%).
- More than half of students currently using e-cigarettes reported using flavors with "ice" or "iced" in the name.
What they're saying: "Despite this progress, youth e-cigarette use remains a serious public health problem in the United States, and the industry remains relentless in finding new ways to addict kids," Yolonda Richardson, CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said in a statement.
- "We cannot let down our guard when over 1.6 million kids still use e-cigarettes and 42% of high school users report frequent or daily use," she said.
Between the lines: The drop in regular e-cigarette use has been accompanied by continued rise since 2016 in the use of nicotine pouches by youth, which may undercut those gains.
- But use of the products, while "concerning" still is considered low, officials said. The survey found 2.4% of high school students and 1% of middle school students used the pouches.
