File – In this January 31, 2020 file photo, a woman has a puff bar-flavored disposable arc device in New York. Government researchers reported that teenage e-cigarettes fell sharply this year as many US students were forced to learn from home because of the COVID-19 pandemic. US health officials cautioned on Thursday, September 30, 2021 when interpreting the numbers collected for the first time using online surveys. (AP Photo / Marshall Ritzel)
Washington (AP) — Teen vaping plummeted this year as many US students were forced to learn from home during a pandemic, according to a government report released Thursday.
US health officials cautioned when interpreting numbers collected for the first time using online surveys. However, outside experts have said that a significant reduction in e-cigarette use is realistic and makes sense given that young people often smoke socially.
“They have found a dramatic decline since last year, and it’s hard to imagine that it doesn’t represent a real decline in use between high school and junior high school students,” said Harvard University, who wasn’t involved in the study. Said Dr. Nancy Rigotti.
In a national survey, 11% of high school students and less than 3% of middle school students said they recently used e-cigarettes and other vapor-breathing products, the Food and Drug Administration and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.
This is a decrease of about 40% from last year, when nearly 20% of high school students and 5% of junior high school students said they had recently vaped.
If this year’s numbers go up, it will be the second biggest drop from the 28% peak for high school students in 2019.
Even before the pandemic, many new restrictions reduced the use of e-cigarettes by minors. In late 2019, new federal law raised the age of purchase for all tobacco and vapor-breathing products from 18 to 21. Shortly thereafter, the FDA banned almost all flavors of cartridge-based e-cigarettes.
Also, some children may have been scared by the occurrence of vaping-related illnesses and deaths. Most were tied to black market vapor-breathing liquid fillers containing THC, a marijuana chemical that uplifts users.
For months, tobacco experts have said that school closures have the potential to vaporize, given that most teens smoke with friends and get e-cigarettes from their peers. I’ve been guessing about the impact.
Rigotti said other studies scheduled later this year need to confirm the decline. Also, now that most schools have returned to face-to-face classes, it is difficult to predict if vaping could rebound.
“I’m sure the school is working hard to prevent that from happening,” she said.
Previously, surveys were always conducted in the classroom. This year, it took place online from January to May to accommodate both home and school students.
Overall, government officials estimate that about two million US teens and adolescents smoke e-cigarettes, which they say is too high. “The use of e-cigarettes among young people remains a serious public health concern,” said Dr. Karen Hacker, a CDC expert, in a statement.
Thursday’s report comes because the FDA could impose even greater restrictions on the vaping industry. Authorities are in the midst of a drastic federal review to determine which e-cigarette brands and products can remain on the market after years of regulatory lag.
Earlier this month, the agency announced a ban on thousands of products, but has yet to determine the few major manufacturers that account for most of its sales, including Juul and Vuse.
New government figures show that teen vaping habits are shifting away from those brands. The top brands quoted by high school students are disposable e-cigarettes called puff bars with flavors such as pink lemonade, strawberry and mango. Disposable e-cigarettes are not subject to strict flavor restrictions on products like Juul, which are only available in menthol and tobacco. Only 6% of students said they use Juul on a regular basis.
US teen e-cigarettes plummet by about 40% amid COVID school closures
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