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US Survey Reveals Sharp Decline in Youth Vaping

By Gordon Stribling 10th September 2020 2 Mins

US youth vaping has declined significantly over the past year, according to the 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS).

The annual survey tracks youth vaping and other tobacco use among middle and high school students across the country.

Current use (at least once in the past 30 days) among high school students dropped by almost a third, from 27.5 percent in 2019 to 19.6 percent in 2020.

Meanwhile, current use among middle school students more than halved over the same period.

Dr. Karen Hacker, director of CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, said:

“These findings reinforce the importance of continuing to focus on the strategies that work to reduce youth tobacco product use while keeping pace with emerging trends in tobacco products.

“Implementing these strategies at the national, state and local levels is integral to preventing and reducing youth tobacco product use, including e-cigarettes.”

Federal health officials have attributed the decline to public health campaigns and sales restrictions.

A ban on flavoured pods brought in to curb youth vaping has been in effect since January, while outright flavour bans are in effect in New York and elsewhere.

However, the survey suggests that some youth vapers are just switching to different types of products as bans take effect.

Sales of disposable devices not impacted by the flavoured pod ban increased by 1,000 percent, the survey revealed.

The study was published as the FDA’s Premarket Tobacco product Application (PMTA) compliance deadline took effect.

All tobacco products now require a valid application in order to remain on the US market.

FDA Commissioner Dr. Stephen Hahn said:

“The findings come as we mark today’s premarket review submission deadline, a milestone for ensuring new tobacco products, including many already on the market, undergo a robust scientific evaluation by the FDA.

“Scientific review of new products is a critical part of how we carry out our mission to protect the public — especially kids — from the harms associated with tobacco use.”

Before issuing a PMTA, the FDA will assess the impact of a product on people’s behaviour, most crucially whether non-smokers are likely to use it.

However, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids which advocates against vaping, maintains that the only way to stop young people using e-cigarettes is to ban flavours altogether.

Header Image by Sam Balye on Unsplash

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Gordon Stribling
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