According to N. News on July 30th, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency released the results of a health survey conducted on adolescents from 2019 to 2023. The survey included sixth grade elementary school students to high school freshmen nationwide, with the aim of tracking changes in their health behaviors from childhood to early adulthood.
The Department of Disease Management pointed out that as students get older, the percentage of adolescents trying various tobacco products for the first time continues to rise, especially during the grades of three to high school freshman. The rate of e-cigarette use has significantly increased, with the usage rate of vape rising from 1.49% to 2.6%, an increase of 1.11%, and the usage rate of cigarette-style e-cigarettes rising from 0.6% to 1.56%, an increase of 0.96%.
Furthermore, 69.5% of teenagers choose flavored tobacco for their first smoking experience, with e-cigarette users being particularly high. The proportion of vape users is 84.8%, followed by 71.5% for cigarette-shaped e-cigarettes, and 62.9% for regular tobacco.
Specifically, of the multiple-users who initially encountered tobacco products, 64.9% chose traditional tobacco, 32% chose vape, and 1.4% chose a cigarette-style e-cigarette. Particularly, 60.3% of adolescents who first used vape now primarily use traditional tobacco.
Lee Seong-kyu, Director of the Korean Tobacco Control Research and Education Center, stated that
As flavored tobacco products continue to gain a foothold in the market, flavored marketing is also becoming more prevalent, making it easier for teenagers to access tobacco products. Teenagers who use e-cigarettes frequently not only increase their dependence on nicotine, but also greatly reduce their chances of quitting smoking.
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