According to a report from FAU on May 14, researchers from the Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) conducted a study on risky behaviors among adolescents in grades 9-12, from 2015 (earliest available data) to 2021 (latest available data), involving 57,006 participants. The study aimed to explore the trends in e-cigarette device use over time.
According to a survey, the usage of e-cigarettes among high school students in the United States decreased to 5% in 2021, although it has more than doubled since 2015 despite a decrease from the peak of 7.2% in 2019. Researchers speculate that the impact of COVID-19, including lockdowns and remote learning, may have contributed to the decrease in 2021, but the organization warns that further research is necessary.
According to the survey results, in 2015, the percentage of boys using e-cigarettes (2.8%) was significantly higher than girls (1.1%). However, by 2021, the percentage of girls using e-cigarettes (5.6%) exceeded that of boys (4.5%), increasing by 125%.
In 2021, the usage rate of e-cigarettes among girls (5%) was only slightly lower than the usage rate among adults in 2022 of 6%. The main author of the research paper, Panagiota Kitsantas, warned that this situation is not optimistic for the long-term health of adolescents.
In addition, the percentage of white (6.5%) adolescents using e-cigarettes in 2021 was higher than that of black (3.1%), Asian (1.2%), and Hispanic/Latino (3.4%) adolescents compared to 2015. However, white and black adolescents saw the highest threefold increase in e-cigarette use from 2015 to 2021. Across all four survey years, daily e-cigarette use was highest in 12th grade, with most students in this grade being between the ages of 17 and 18.
Researchers have expressed concerns about the use of e-cigarettes among teenagers.
E-cigarettes sold in the United States almost always contain nicotine, and their use by young people may lead to future abuse and addiction to other substances. Using e-cigarettes is not a safer alternative to smoking, but it may lead to a decrease in the use of traditional tobacco products. The use of e-cigarettes has also raised concerns about new health risks, including nicotine addiction.
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