A study conducted on healthy children in Colorado has revealed a "promising trend" in the use of tobacco products among teenagers and in businesses. The survey results were released in June by Colorado's Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The study included both high school and middle school students.
The latest data is encouraging," said Natalya Versheure, a tobacco project manager at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). "However, there is still more work to be done. We recommend that parents, schools, and communities continue to encourage teenagers to make healthy choices and strengthen their non-smoking habits.
For the first time since 2015, officials have reported a significant decrease in the use of e-cigarettes among high school students. The current figure stands at 16%, down from 26% in 2019. There has also been a decline in the proportion of high school students using e-cigarettes (from 6% to 3%) and any tobacco products (from 29% to 17%).
The investigation also revealed that the percentage of students who vape decreased in 2019, as electronic cigarettes are cheaper than other tobacco products. Likewise, the percentage of students who believe that tobacco or e-cigarettes are easily accessible also decreased.
Officials stated in the news that "some policy changes over the past two years may have affected these numbers, including the EE proposal which introduced a tax on e-cigarettes starting January 1, 2021. Additionally, the tobacco law raised the minimum age for purchasing tobacco products from 18 to 21, and over 36 local ordinances in Colorado now require retailers selling tobacco products to obtain a license.
Although these are all positive trends, the latest data from the "Colorado State Healthy Kids Survey" shows that there are still some concerning areas. The percentage of students using electronic cigarette products for flavoring has increased to 23%. The data also shows that young people are trying vapor products at a very young age. The proportion of high school students who tried electronic cigarette products before the age of 13 has significantly increased from 13% in 2019 to 22% in 2021. The usage rate among middle school students remains stable.
New data indicates that students are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about smoking and vaping, with a growing number believing that both are unacceptable behaviors for young people. Additionally, a higher proportion now believe that nearby parents and other adults also see these habits as wrong.
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