Youth vaping declines, but Massachusetts senator sees "more work to do"
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Half a million fewer U.S. teens said they used e-cigarettes this year compared to last, per the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey.
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 between Jan. 22 and May 22.
Between the lines: The 2024 survey credited a crackdown on vaping products like Elf Bar and other enforcement efforts.
- The findings also come after Massachusetts and other states banned flavored tobacco product sales.
- Juul paid Massachusetts $41 million in 2023 as part of a multi-state settlement.
- Since then, Massachusetts advocacy groups like The 84 have continued student-led education campaigns warning against the dangers of youth vaping.
What they're saying: "There's still a lot more work to do because once there's a step forward in terms of educating young people … the next thing you know, there's another product available," says state Sen. John Keenan.
- Keenan, who sponsored the bill banning flavored tobacco products, supports a nationwide ban.
- President Joe Biden delayed plans for a national menthol cigarette ban after lobbying from civil rights groups, including some sponsored by Big Tobacco.
Zoom in: The national survey can't be broken down by state, but recent surveys suggest Massachusetts youth are also reducing their e-cigarette intake.
- 31% of young people in Massachusetts reported vaping at least once, with 17.2% saying they currently vaped in 2021, per the CDC's Youth Risk Behavior Survey.
- In 2019, 50.7% of students had reported vaping once, and 32.2% said they were currently vaping.
Among teens who do vape, the most commonly used product 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.
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.