E-cigarette use among high school students in the United States has seen a significant decline this year, according to a government survey released on Thursday. The survey, conducted between March and June of 2023, shows that 10% of high school students reported using e-cigarettes, down from 14% in previous years. This drop in usage is the first clear sign of a decline since the COVID-19 pandemic, making year-over-year comparisons difficult.
Although the decline in e-cigarette use was evident among high school students, there was no statistically significant change in usage among middle school students. Among students in grades 6-8, e-cigarette use increased slightly from 3.3% in 2022 to 4.6% in 2023.
While the drop in e-cigarette use among high school students is positive news, the survey also revealed concerning signs of high usage among students who have tried these devices. Approximately half of the students who had ever tried e-cigarettes reported currently using them, indicating that many individuals who experiment with e-cigarettes end up becoming regular users.
The survey found that a total of 22.2% of the surveyed students, or around 6.2 million high school and middle school students, reported using some form of tobacco product. E-cigarettes remained the most commonly used tobacco product among students, with 7.7% reporting e-cigarette usage.
Among the students currently using e-cigarettes, the majority (89.4%) reported using flavored e-cigarettes, and a significant portion (25.2%) used them on a daily basis. The findings highlight the ongoing threat that commercial tobacco product use poses to the health of young individuals.
Manufacturers of e-cigarettes have faced criticism from health regulators in recent years, particularly concerning their alleged targeting of youth with marketing campaigns. There have been concerns that a new generation would become addicted to nicotine through these devices.
The decline in e-cigarette usage among high school students is seen as a positive development in terms of public health. However, experts stress that there is still work to be done in addressing tobacco product use among young individuals. They emphasize the need for effective policies and public education campaigns to continue driving down and ultimately eliminate youth usage of all tobacco products.
The survey also shed light on the most commonly used e-cigarette brands among students. The top brands reported were Elf Bar, Esco Bars, Vuse from British American Tobacco, JUUL, and Mr. Fog.
In response to the findings, Altria Group, the maker of Marlboro and NJOY e-cigarettes, highlighted the high usage of illicit disposable vapes among the most used devices. They called on regulatory authorities, specifically the FDA, to take swift action in addressing the unregulated marketplace and preventing youth access to these products.
Overall, while the decline in e-cigarette usage among high school students is a step in the right direction, it is clear that efforts to combat tobacco product use among young individuals must continue in order to protect the health and wellbeing of the nation's youth.