Korean Health Survey Reveals Increase in Youth E-cigarette Use

According to a report by KBS News, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency announced the results of the adolescent health tracking survey conducted between 2019 and 2023 on July 30th. The data showed that the use of e-cigarettes significantly increased among middle school students when they entered high school.

The survey conducted by the Department of Disease Management targeted 5,051 sixth-grade elementary school students nationwide, tracking their health behavior changes over a period of ten years. This included smoking, drinking, dietary habits, physical activity, etc., with the aim of monitoring changes in their health behavior and identifying contributing factors.

The survey results indicate that the proportion of students who first come into contact with tobacco products increases as students get older. Particularly during the transition from junior high to high school, there is a significant increase in the use of vaporizers and HNB-type e-cigarettes. The use of vapes increased by 1.11%, HNB-type e-cigarettes by 0.96%, and traditional cigarettes by 0.55%.

In terms of the usage of various tobacco products, e-cigarette users have the highest overlap rate. The overlap rate for HNB e-cigarettes is 98.5%, with 63.5% of users simultaneously using three products (traditional cigarettes + vape), and 35.0% simultaneously using two products (traditional cigarettes). The overlap rate for vape is 73.8%, with 26.6% of users simultaneously using three products and 47.2% simultaneously using two products.

The first products used by students when they start smoking are traditional cigarettes, vape, and HNB e-cigarettes in order. Among them, over 60% of students who first use vape currently mainly use traditional cigarettes.

The Department of Health stated that

According to research findings, vaping may potentially serve as a gateway product for teenagers to transition to traditional cigarettes. It is believed that there is a need to strengthen regulation of new tobacco and flavored tobacco products.