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Youth Vaping Takes A Nosedive

Recent data reveals a significant decline in vaping among American middle and high school students, with only 5.9% reporting use, down from 7.7% the previous year. This translates to approximately 1.6 million youths having used e-cigarettes at least once in the past month, compared to 2.1 million in 2023. Among those who do vape, 23.6% use e-cigarettes daily.

The reduction is primarily attributed to high school students, while the vaping rates among middle schoolers remain relatively stable. Brian King, director of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products, hailed this decline as a major public health victory.

Yolanda Richardson, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, acknowledged the positive trend but cautioned that the vaping and tobacco industries continue to target young people. She emphasized that while the drop in usage is a relief, the industry remains persistent in its efforts to attract youth with addictive products.

The National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), conducted annually, surveyed students between late January and late May. Despite a long-term decline in cigarette smoking among youth, there has been concern over the rise in vaping. The peak of e-cigarette use among students occurred in 2019, with over 5 million reporting use, a figure that has now reduced to a third of that number.

The majority of young vapers prefer flavored e-cigarettes, with fruit, candy, and mint being the most popular flavors. Leading brands include Elf Bar, Breeze, Mr. Fog, Vuse, and JUUL. However, Elf Bar’s market share has decreased following FDA enforcement actions. The tobacco industry is also introducing new nicotine products, like pouches, although youth use of these products has not significantly increased this year.

Health experts are cautiously optimistic about the downward trend in youth vaping but stress the need for continued vigilance and strong regulations. The American Heart Association urges further regulatory actions and public policies to prevent the tobacco industry from targeting children with harmful products.