Youth E-Cig Use Remains High

(RxWiki News) Millions of kids and teens in the United States use electronic cigarettes, according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

And health officials are concerned that continuing high e-cigarette use could put kids’ and teens’ health at risk.

“It’s clear that we still have a serious public health problem that threatens the years of progress we have made combatting youth tobacco product use,” said FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert M. Califf in a press release. “We cannot and will not let our guard down on this issue.”

Health officials’ concerns stem from a new study that took place between January and May of 2022. It was an online survey that asked middle and high school students about their e-cig use in the past 30 days.

Around 3.3 percent of middle school students said they had used e-cigs in the past month. For high school students, that figure was much higher at 14.1 percent.

More than a quarter of the youth who reported using e-cigs said they used them every day. And most (almost 85 percent) used flavored nicotine liquid in the devices.

The FDA said it would continue its efforts to reduce the use of tobacco products among young people.

In addition, the agency announced that it was taking enforcement action against companies that make e-cig products that are popular with young people. Those actions included warning letters, permit denials and more, the FDA said.

“FDA is actively working to identify violations and to swiftly seek corrective actions, particularly for products popular among youth,” said said Dr. Brian King, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, in a press release. “We will use all compliance and enforcement tools available to us, as appropriate, to protect our nation’s youth.”

If you believe your child is using tobacco products, reach out to your family healthcare provider to discuss potential quitting strategies or treatments.