Study shows 2.5 million U.S. middle and high schoolers use e-cigarettes

 

St. Joseph County --- The 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey found that more than 2.5 million youth reported e-cigarette use this year, nearly half a million more than last year’s results. The study focuses on how many students between 6^th grade and 12^th grade are using e-cigs. The results show it’s nearly one in ten, and health officials warn the trend is a threat to the health of our country’s youth.

“Two point five million is still way too many of our youth that’s addicted to this product, and using it,” says Director of Community Health and Wellbeing and Tobacco Initiatives at Saint Joseph Health System, Latorya Greene.

An alarming trend, disguised by fruity flavors and appealing marketing. E-cigarettes, or vapes, are becoming more popular and more harmful for teens and pre-teens.

“The brain doesn’t fully develop until the age of 25, so if we have 9, 10, 13-year-olds who are using these products, then they’re definitely going to be hindering that development taking place in their brain,” Greene explains.

“The nicotine salts and the synthetics, and the things that we aren’t even sure that they are putting into them as well, especially with the fentanyl crisis that we have going on as well,” says Jalysa Gibson, Youth Coordinator for Saint Joseph Health Tobacco Initiative and VOICE Program.

Vaping has been connected to outbreaks of lung injuries, according to the C.D.C. More than one in four of the youth using e-cigarettes in the report are using daily.

“They’re told that it’s going to help their anxiety, they’re told that it’s going to make them feel less stressed. The reality is that the stress that it puts on your body and the addiction that comes with that creates anxiety and stresses your body out even more,” says Gibson.

Even with efforts to stop vaping companies from targeting teenagers, health officials say the industry finds ways to indirectly advertise to young people.

“It comes down to the literature inside of that regulation, that’s where they find their loopholes, so we really have to make sure that we’re cracking down on the language that comes with those regulations,” Gibson says.

It’s why health officials are now focused on educating students and parents.

“They have to be aware of this industry as well in terms of how they’re targeting, and the different products that are out there and how to be able to identify those products,” Greene says.

Indiana teens can be a part of the change against e-cig use by joining VOICE, a statewide youth empowerment program that educated about the dangers of vaping and celebrating tobacco-free lifestyles. Learn more about VOICE and how to join here.