NEW YORK (AP) — A recent government report has revealed a promising decline in vaping among high school students in the United States. The survey results, which show a decrease from 14% to 10% in the past year, indicate a shift in teenage smoking trends.
Key Survey Findings:
- Decline in Vaping: Only 10% of high school students reported using electronic cigarettes in the past month, showing a notable drop from the previous year.
- Reduction in Tobacco Product Usage: The usage of tobacco products, including cigarettes and cigars, has also seen a decline among high school students.
- Middle School Vaping Rates: About 5% of middle school students reported using e-cigarettes, a rate that remains unchanged from last year.
Survey Methodology:
- The survey involved over 22,000 students completing an online questionnaire in spring, providing a comprehensive view of youth smoking trends.
Factors Contributing to the Decline:
- Health officials suggest that efforts to raise prices and restrict sales to minors, including the legal age increase to 21, have positively impacted the trend.
FDA’s Role and Authorization:
- The FDA has approved certain tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes to aid adult smokers in reducing their habit but faces challenges in curbing illegal product sales.
Additional Report Highlights:
- Daily Use: About a quarter of the student e-cigarette users engage in daily vaping.
- Overall Tobacco Product Use: Around 1 in 10 middle and high school students have recently used a tobacco product, equating to approximately 2.8 million youths in the US.
- Popularity of E-cigarettes: E-cigarettes remain the most used tobacco product among teens, with disposable ones being particularly popular.
- Flavored Product Usage: Nearly 90% of vaping students prefer flavored products, with fruit and candy flavors being the most popular.
Regulatory Challenges and Brand Popularity:
- Following FDA regulations in 2020, popular teen flavors were banned in reusable e-cigarettes, but disposable products filled the gap. Brands like Elf Bar and Esco Bar have become prominent, driven by a variety of flavors.
FDA’s Ongoing Efforts:
- Despite efforts to regulate, including fines and warning letters, disposable vapes like Elf Bar remain widely available, posing a challenge to enforcement.
Concerns in Middle School Trends:
- An unexpected increase in tobacco product usage among middle school students was noted, contrasting the decline in high school students. Experts suggest this might be an anomaly rather than a trend.
Reporting from Washington:
- This report by Perrone from Washington highlights the ongoing efforts and complexities in addressing vaping and tobacco use among youth in the US.
For more details on this important topic, visit the original AP News article.
