The latest data from the CDC and the FDA appears to show a downward trend in youth vaping rates, from an epidemic level of about 20 percent to 9 percent among middle and high schoolers this year compared to 2019. While this is good news, officials warn the finding may be distorted by pandemic disruptions that limited supply, and a change in survey methodology to online-only canvassing. Still, they say that even at this level vaping is at an unacceptably high rate for this age group and poses a risk to their health. Our nation’s youth, the report concluded, are still being enticed and hooked by an expanding variety of e-cigarette brands delivering flavored nicotine, as well as marijuana at extremely high levels. Tobacco control advocates note that while high school vaping peaked at an estimated 27.5 percent in 2019, more than 2.5 million kids still use e-cigarettes today. They are calling for the FDA to ban all flavored e-cigarette products that are overwhelmingly the most popular with young Americans, and to address new vaping products on the market from brands such as Puff Bar—the most popular brand for the second year in a row—that use disposable e-cigarette designs that are sold illegally. The FDA has moved too slowly to take on the e-cigarette industry, which continues to target young people in its product marketing and design.
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Rosenthal Center for AddictIon Studies