50% of US schoolkids who try vapes become addicted

The CDC, or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is a national public health institute in the United States. It is a federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Almost half of all kids who try vapes become addicted

The CDC’s recent analysis reveals that in the USA approximately 47% of children who have tried e-cigarettes have become addicted.

Despite a 20% decline in high school vaping, usage among middle school students has increased. The 2023 Youth Tobacco Survey found nearly 8% of middle and high school students, about 2.1 million children, currently use vapes, a slight decrease from 2.55 million in 2022.

Unsurprisingly, candy-flavoured vapes are a hit with kids

E-cigarettes, particularly those with candy or fruit flavours, have enticed millions of young users, with 90% preferring these flavours.

Dr. Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, director of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, acknowledges progress with the decline among high schoolers but emphasises ongoing efforts to combat youth e-cigarette use.

E-cigarettes’ high nicotine content makes them extremely addictive; nearly half of young users become regular consumers. Despite a significant drop in high school vaping rates, the number of middle school users increased by nearly 40%.

The data shows mixed results with little room for optimism

In 2023, over 6.2 million school-aged children tried tobacco products, including vapes. Of those who tried e-cigarettes, about 47% still vape, with 25% vaping daily.

The survey shows a 29% decline in high school vaping from 2022, suggesting some progress but highlighting a worsening problem among middle schoolers.

The CDC’s Youth Tobacco Survey, a comprehensive assessment of youth tobacco use, indicates that while smoking rates are at an all-time low, e-cigarette use is rising.

Nearly 8% of the 10% of students who use tobacco products rely on e-cigarettes for their nicotine fix. Although the decline from 14.1% to 10% among high schoolers is promising, 1.5 million high school students remain addicted.

Kids need more protection from predatory vape companies

Dr. Brian King of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products commends the decline but stresses the need for continued efforts.

The federal government raised the tobacco purchasing age to 21 in 2019, but advocates argue for stricter regulations to prevent youth vaping.

The FDA has reviewed most of the 26 million applications from vape manufacturers, approving only 23, yet many believe more robust measures are needed to curb youth access to vapes. The majority of youth vapers prefer fruit or candy-flavored products, contributing to the addiction problem.

John Dicey, Global CEO, Allen Carr’s Easyway comments,

“Despite regulatory efforts, the e-cigarette industry remains lucrative, with projections estimating a market value in the USA of $169 billion by 2030! Like the tobacco industry, the vape industry operates one of the most sophisticated marketing machines on the planet that preys on youngsters.”

Further reading:

• Read a recent MailOnline feature on the CDC’s analysis
• How to quit vaping programmes
• Is vaping safer than smoking?