Youth E-cigarette Use Plummets: FDA Reports 70% Decline Since 2019

Federal officials have reported a substantial decrease in youth e-cigarette use, with rates falling nearly 70% since their peak in 2019. According to the latest National Youth Tobacco Survey, conducted by the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 6% of U.S. middle and high school students reported using e-cigarettes in 2024, down from 7.7% in 2023.

This decline marks the lowest level of youth e-cigarette use in a decade, primarily driven by a decrease among high school students. The survey revealed that about 1.21 million high school students used an e-cigarette in the past 30 days, compared to 1.56 million in 2023.

The reduction in youth vaping is attributed to several factors:

• Increased government enforcement efforts
• Fines against e-cigarette manufacturers and retailers
• Seizures of illegal products from overseas
• New evidence about health risks associated with e-cigarettes
• Educational campaigns at federal, state, and local levels

Joanna Cohen, director of the Institute for Global Tobacco Control at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, cautioned that while this progress is commendable, the tobacco industry remains well-equipped to attract young consumers with appealing products and flavors.

"Today's data from the FDA and CDC confirms once again that there is no youth vaping epidemic as the rate continues to plummet. The FDA must stop shading the facts and start authorizing a wide variety of less harmful flavored e-cigarette options for the 30 million Americans suffering and dying from cigarette smoking."

Despite the overall decline, concerns persist regarding middle school students, where no statistically significant change in e-cigarette use was observed over the past year. Experts emphasize the need for tailored interventions for this age group.

The survey also highlighted the popularity of flavored products among young users, with fruit being the most common, followed by candy and mint. Disposable e-cigarettes remain the preferred choice for youth, a trend attributed to the previous administration's failure to regulate flavored one-time-use vapes.

While e-cigarette use declines, attention is shifting to emerging products like nicotine pouches, such as Zyn. Although usage levels among students remained under 2% in the past year, experts worry about potential increases due to social media influence and increased production.

The FDA faces ongoing challenges in regulating the e-cigarette market. A major test of the agency's power is currently before the Supreme Court, which will review the FDA's refusal to approve certain flavored vapes. Public health groups and Democratic lawmakers have urged the court to uphold the FDA's authority in regulating these products.

As the tobacco landscape evolves, federal officials remain vigilant. Brian King, director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products, stated, "Bottom line is that we are concerned about any tobacco product use that may appeal to youth. Our guard is up."

While the decline in youth e-cigarette use is encouraging, experts caution that it doesn't represent the full picture of tobacco use across all age groups. Ongoing concerns include the influx of illegal disposable vapes from China and the need for continued enforcement against unauthorized products.

As research continues, it's important to note that e-cigarettes were invented in 2003 and introduced to the U.S. market in 2007. The long-term health effects of e-cigarette use are still not fully understood, and while generally considered less harmful than traditional cigarettes, they are not without risks. The legal age to purchase e-cigarettes in the U.S. was raised to 21 in December 2019, reflecting ongoing efforts to curb youth access to these products.