Recent data analysis has revealed worsening e-cigarette addiction in US adolescents.
Youngsters’ e-cigarette use peaked in 2019 and then declined, but initiation age dropped between 2014 and 2021, and intensity of use and addiction rose after the introduction of protonated nicotine products. This last point was shown in the finding that by 2019, more e-cigarette users were using their first product within five minutes of waking than all other tobacco product users combined.
Data analysis was taken from the annual National Youth Tobacco Survey – a nationally representative survey of 151,000 school students in grades 6 to 12.
The findings suggest that clinicians need to be ready to address youth addiction to these products during clinical meetings, and stronger regulation is needed.
Image Credit | Shutterstock
