CDC: More than 2.5 million youth reported e-cigarette use in 2022

(ABC 6 News) – A study released on Thursday from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that over 2 million youth reported e-cigarette use in 2022.

The study says that 2.55 million U.S. middle and high school students reported current (past 30-day) e-cigarette use, which includes 14.1% of high school students and 3.3% of middle school students. Nearly 85% used flavored e-cigarettes and more than half used disposable e-cigarettes.

The findings are based on data from the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), a cross-sectional, self-administered survey of U.S. middle (grades 6–8) and high (grades 9–12) school students, which was administered January 18–May 31, 2022.

The study assessed current use (on one or more of the past 30 days) of e-cigarettes; frequency; and use by device type, flavors, and usual brand.

“This study shows that our nation’s youth continue to be enticed and hooked by an expanding variety of e-cigarette brands delivering flavored nicotine,” said Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, Ph.D., M.P.H., director of CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health. “Our work is far from over. It’s critical that we work together to prevent youth from starting to use any tobacco product – including e-cigarettes – and help all youth who do use them, to quit.”

Other key findings:

• Frequency of Use: Among youth who currently used e-cigarettes, 27.6% used them daily and 42.3% used them on 20 or more of the past 30 days.
• Device Type: Among youth who currently used e-cigarettes, the most commonly used e-cigarette device type was disposable (55.3%), followed by prefilled or refillable pods or cartridges (25.2%), and tanks or mod systems (6.7%). Additionally, 12.8% reported not knowing the type of device used.
• Flavored E-cigarettes: Among youth who currently used e-cigarettes, 84.9% used flavored e-cigarettes, i.e., with flavors other than tobacco, including 85.5% of high school and 81.5% of middle school students reporting use. Overall, the most used flavors were fruit (69.1%); candy, desserts, or other sweets (38.3%); mint (29.4%); and menthol (26.6%).

The CDC says since 2014, e-cigarettes have been the most used tobacco product among U.S. youth. Such products contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm the developing adolescent brain. Using nicotine during adolescence might also increase risk for future addiction to other drugs.

To learn more about the study, CLICK HERE.