Alarming Rise of Electronic Vaping Use in U.S. Adolescents
Findings show alarming statistically significant and clinically important increases of the daily use of electronic vapor products in U.S. adolescents.
Electronic vapor products (EVPs), also known as e-cigarettes or vaping devices, have an allure because of their marketed image as a safer alternative to traditional cigarette smoking and for their variety of appealing flavors.
Yet, they contain many substances beyond nicotine, including propylene glycol, glycerin, flavorings and potentially harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde and metals, which could pose significant health risks such as respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Vaping also is strongly linked with a serious medical condition that damages the lungs due to the vitamin E acetate, an additive used in tetrahydrocannabinol-containing e-cigarettes.
In 2022, 6% of adults in the U.S. reported current vaping device use. Widespread use by adults has raised concerns about EVP use among adolescents.
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University’s Schmidt College of Medicine explored temporal trends in EVP use from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey for ninth through 12th grades among 57,006 subjects from 2015 (earliest available data) to 2021 (most recently available data) from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Results of the study, published online ahead of print in the peer-reviewed Ochsner Journal, show alarming statistically significant and clinically important increases of the daily use of EVPs in U.S. adolescents.
Daily use of EVPs increased from 2% in 2015 to 7.2% in 2019, greater than three-and-one-half times increase. Although the percentage decreased to 5% in 2021, it was still more than a two-and-one-half increase since 2015. The researchers speculate that the effects of COVID-19, which included lockdowns and remote schooling, may have contributed to the decrease in 2021 but cautioned that further research is warranted.
Findings also show that in 2015, the percentage of EVP use was significantly higher in boys (2.8%) than girls (1.1%). By 2021, the percentage of EVP use was higher in girls (5.6%) than boys (4.5%), a one-and-one-quarter increase.
In addition, the percentage of EVP use in 2021 was higher in whites (6.5%) than Blacks (3.1%), Asians (1.2%), and Hispanic/Latinos (3.4%) compared to 2015. However, white and Black adolescents had the highest increases of about threefold between 2015 and 2021. In all four survey years, daily EVP use was highest in grade 12 where most students are ages 17 to 18.
“EVP use increases risks of nicotine addiction, drug-seeking behavior, mood disorders and long-term risks of avoidable premature morbidities and mortality,” said Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., Dr.PH, first author, first Sir Richard Doll Professor of Medicine and senior academic advisor, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine. “In addition, compared to nonusers, adolescents and young adults who use EVPs are more likely to switch to cigarette smoking, which, despite remarkable declines in the U.S., remains the leading avoidable cause of premature death in the U.S. and worldwide.”
The researchers also raise concerns about risks of short- as well as long-term use of EVPs.
“Almost 100% of e-cigarettes sold in the U.S. contain nicotine, and the use of these products by adolescents may lead to future abuse of and addiction to additional substances,” said Panagiota “Yiota” Kitsantas, Ph.D., senior author and professor and chair of the Department of Population Health and Social Medicine , FAU Schmidt College of Medicine. “EVP use is not a safer alternative to smoking but may have contributed to the decline in regular tobacco product use. EVP use also raises concerns about new health risks, including nicotine addiction.”
While data indicate a substantial decline in traditional cigarette smoking among U.S. adolescents, the introduction of EVP use and their alarming increases have presented new challenges. The researchers believe that the data create clinical and public health challenges.
“These alarming trends in the use of EVPs suggest the need for targeted interventions such as mass media campaigns and peer interventions to combat the influences of social norms that promote the adoption of risky health behaviors during adolescence,” said Hennekens. “Clinical interventions could include routine screening for vaping and nicotine dependence during adolescent health assessments as well as counseling and tailored cessation programs.”
Study co-authors are Adedamola Adele, Department of Biomedical Science; Maria C. Mejia, M.D., professor of population health and social medicine; and Robert S. Levine, M.D., affiliate professor of family medicine, all within the Schmidt College of Medicine.
In 2014, Hennekens received the prestigious Ochsner Award for Smoking and Health for reducing premature deaths from cigarettes, which was presented by the American College of Chest Physicians. Hennekens joined other luminaries who had previously received the award, including his mentors and colleagues, Professors Sir Richard Doll and Sir Richard Peto as well as Alton Ochsner, M.D.
-FAU-
Latest Research
- FAU Researcher Lands Grant for Personalized Cancer Radiation TherapyThe project, led by Wazir Muhammad, Ph.D., will employ AI, specifically deep reinforcement learning, to analyze multimodal data, improving cancer characterization and treatment for better patient outcomes.
- FAU/Mainstreet Poll: Harris Narrows Trump's Lead to 5 PointsNew FAU poll highlights current voter leanings that were examined immediately before U.S. President Joe Biden announced he was leaving the race.
- National Poll Shows Small Trump Bump Post-Assassination AttemptA new poll of the battleground states of Georgia and Virginia highlights current voter leanings that were examined immediately before and after the attempted assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump.
- FAU Expert: These Banks Are at Higher Risk of a Depositor RunMore banks are at an increased risk of having a liquidity crisis caused from withdrawals by large uninsured depositors, according to an analysis from a finance expert at Florida Atlantic University
- Digital Self-Harm Surges Among U.S. Teens from 2016 to 2021A new study finds that digital self-harm, where individuals anonymously post or share hurtful content about themselves online, has increased more than 88% since 2016 among 13 to 17 year olds in the U.S.
- National Poll: 45% of Democrat Voters Say Biden Should Not RunA new poll conducted by Florida Atlantic University's PolCom Lab and Mainstreet Research USA examines the state of the presidential election as reverberations of last week's debate continue to play out.