Over 25% Of High Schoolers Use E-Cigarettes, CDC Reports

Lisette Voytko Forbes Staff Sep 12, 2019, 12:37pm

Topline: As the Trump administration considers banning all non-tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes, preliminary survey data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) shows that youth vaping has reached an all-time high⁠—which puts even more pressure on officials to stem their use.

·         The CDC found that in 2019, 27.5% of high schoolers used an e-cigarette within the previous month, compared to 20.8% in 2018⁠.

·         Youth e-cigarette usage has surged in the past two years⁠—in 2017, the CDC reported 11.7% of teens were using the devices. 

·         Flavored vape juice, like fruit, menthol and mint are the most popular among teens; 60% of surveyed teens reported vaping with them.

·         Critics of vaping say the fruity and minty flavors are too attractive for high schoolers, which is one of the reasons behind the Trump administration’s proposed crackdown.

·         Critics also like to blame Juul, which makes sleek, modern-looking vape pens that can be easily hidden. A spokesperson for Juul said Wednesday that the company agrees with the need for “aggressive” action on flavored vape products, and plans to comply once the government releases the new policy.

·         The CDC is also investigating over 450 cases of illness and six deaths possibly linked to vaping, and recommended Friday that people stop using the devices while it works to determine the cause.

What to watch for: The Trump administration said a plan to “clear the market” of flavored e-cigarettes would be released in the next two weeks. What the final version will say (and how it will impact vaping companies) remains unclear.

Surprising fact: While vaping among high schoolers surges to new heights, teen use of tobacco cigarettes has hit an all-time low: Just 5.8% reported smoking them.

Key background: The CDC’s data comes from its annual National Youth Tobacco Survey. Public health advocates say that vaping has undone years of anti-smoking progress for youths. E-cigarette usage among teens dropped by about 30% in 2016 and 2017, before spiking by nearly 80% (and almost 50% among middle-schoolers) in 2018. 

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