Drop in e-cigarette use drives decline in teen tobacco use nationally — but not in Arizona

By Nicholas Gerbis
Published: Friday, November 10, 2023 - 4:43pm
Updated: Friday, November 10, 2023 - 4:47pm

Audio icon Download mp3 (1.08 MB)

CDC

Tobacco use among high school students fell significantly last year, from 16.5% to 12.6%.

That’s according to a CDC and FDA study, which says that drop was driven largely by a 4% reduction in e-cigarette use, from 14% to 10%.

But in Arizona, state epidemiologists report only an insignificant downward blip in high-schoolers using electronic vaping products (a broader category that includes e-cigarettes and vapes). And those who do use them are doing so more often.

Nationally, e-cigarettes — mainly flavored varieties — have dominated tobacco use by middle school and high school students for the past decade.

Research shows half of kids who tried such products continued using them.

Nicotine use is unhealthy, addictive and can harm developing adolescent brains.

Science Health + Medicine