(LOOTPRESS) – The new data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shows a significant decline in current e-cigarette use among U.S. youth.
In 2024, there were 500,000 fewer youth reporting current e-cigarette use compared to 2023. This decrease was largely driven by reduced e-cigarette use among high school students, while there was no statistically significant change for middle school students.
The NYTS is an annual, nationally representative survey of U.S. middle and high school students, conducted from January 22 to May 22, 2024. The findings, featured in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), provide insights into e-cigarette and nicotine pouch use among American youth – two tobacco product categories closely monitored by the FDA and CDC, particularly regarding youth use and appeal.
The number of youth who used e-cigarettes in 2024 is approximately one-third of the peak in 2019, when over five million youth reported current e-cigarette use. This significant decline is a “monumental public health win,” according to Brian King, Ph.D., M.P.H., director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. However, he cautions that more work is needed to further reduce youth e-cigarette use.
The data also revealed that among current e-cigarette users, the majority used flavored products, with fruit, candy, and mint being the top three most common flavors. Disposable e-cigarette products were the most common product type used, with Elf Bar, Breeze, Mr. Fog, Vuse, and JUUL being the most popular brands. Notably, there was a substantial drop in youth reporting use of Elf Bar products, likely due to the FDA’s focused compliance and enforcement actions against the brand.
Regarding nicotine pouches, the data showed no statistically significant change in youth use from 2023 to 2024. However, the FDA and CDC remain vigilant, as they continue to monitor the evolving tobacco product landscape for potential threats to public health, particularly when it comes to youth.
