A recent report from the CDC and FDA revealed that youth vaping levels have significantly decreased to the lowest in a decade, with e-cigarette use among middle and high school students dropping from 2.13 million in 2023 to 1.63 million in 2024. This decline is mainly attributed to legal actions taken by the FDA to curb the use of popular vaping products among teens, such as Elf Bar. The FDA has issued warning letters, civil penalties, and import alerts for Elf Bar products, resulting in a notable decrease in its use among students.
Despite this positive trend, experts like Dr. Sharon Levy of Boston Children’s Hospital emphasize that there is still work to be done to further reduce youth vaping rates. The survey also found that the use of nicotine pouches, including Zyn, remains steady among adolescents, with about half a million youth reporting use in 2024. These products are viewed as problematic because they are often mistaken for FDA-certified nicotine replacement therapies used by adults to quit smoking.
The survey also revealed that a significant number of young e-cigarette users reported daily use, with a preference for flavored vapes like fruit and candy. Levy highlighted concerns about the increasing potency of nicotine in vaping products, with some advertising up to 15,000 puffs, potentially leading to harmful levels of nicotine exposure. She emphasized the need for continued efforts to regulate flavored vaping products and educate youth about the risks associated with vaping.
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