A new survey reveals that e-cigarette use among US high school students has dropped to its lowest level in a decade.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) released Thursday, fewer than 8% of high school students—approximately 1.2 million—reported using e-cigarettes in the past month. This marks a decline from 10% in 2023.
The survey highlights a significant decrease from 2019, when around 35% of middle and high school students—nearly 9.4 million—reported using e-cigarettes. In the latest survey, e-cigarette use among middle and high school students fell to 1.63 million, down from 2.13 million the previous year, reflecting a decline of about 23%.
The CDC attributes this decrease to “comprehensive tobacco control strategies” and intensified regulatory actions. Notably, there has been a 20.6% drop in the use of the popular Elf Bar brand among youth, following FDA warnings to distributors to prevent sales of these products to minors.
The National Youth Tobacco Survey, conducted annually by the CDC and FDA, involved nearly 30,000 students from approximately 280 schools between January and May 2024. The survey indicates that a majority of students who use e-cigarettes prefer flavored products, such as fruit or menthol flavors.
The decrease in e-cigarette use comes after years of regulatory scrutiny, including bans on sweet-flavored tobacco products and increased enforcement against unauthorized vape manufacturers. The FDA’s recent actions include banning Juul’s popular products, although this ban was partially lifted in June, and prohibiting some menthol and berry-flavored products.
Despite the progress, officials remain vigilant. Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, director of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, noted the ongoing concern over nicotine pouches, which have seen a slight increase in use among students. The survey found that about 1.8% of students use nicotine pouches, a modest rise from 1.5% the previous year.
Brian King, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, called the decline in youth e-cigarette use a significant public health achievement but stressed the need for continued efforts.
“We can’t rest on our laurels… There’s still more work to do to further reduce youth e-cigarette use,” said King.
The survey also highlights the installation of vaping detectors in some school districts as part of the broader effort to combat teen vaping. Schools in Maryland, Arizona, Texas, and Indiana have recently implemented these measures.
While the decline in e-cigarette use among high school students is a positive development, experts and health officials caution that any tobacco use among youth remains a serious concern, particularly given the high nicotine content in some products.
