New Data Show 2.5 Million Youth Currently Use E-Cigarettes

October 31, 2022 by Alec Stone MA, MPA, Former ONS Director of Government Affairs and Advocacy

In FDA’s 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey (https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/new-data-show-more-25-million-us-youth-currently-use-e-cigarettes?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery), nearly 85% of youth e-cigarette users said that they used flavored e-cigarettes (https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/new-data-show-more-25-million-us-youth-currently-use-e-cigarettes?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery) and more than 1 in 4 (27.6%) reported using e-cigarettes daily (https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/new-data-show-more-25-million-us-youth-currently-use-e-cigarettes?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery).

“FDA remains deeply concerned about e-cigarette use among our nation’s youth. It’s clear that we still have a serious public health problem that threatens the years of progress we have made combatting youth tobacco product use,” Robert M. Califf, MD, FDA commissioner, said (https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/new-data-show-more-25-million-us-youth-currently-use-e-cigarettes?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery). “We cannot and will not let our guard down on this issue. FDA remains steadfast in its commitment to using the full range of our authorities to address youth e-cigarette use head-on.”

With youth e-cigarette and vaping habits at an alarming high, nurses must advocate for regulation and research (https://www.ons.org/make-difference/ons-center-advocacy-and-health-policy/position-statements/e-cigarettes-and-vaping) on the tobacco products and the marketing strategies (https://voice.ons.org/advocacy/fda-wont-finish-reviewing-e-cigarette-marketing-applications-until-june-2023) their manufacturers engage to promote them to underage users.


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