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E-cigarette sales increased nearly 47% from January 2020 to December 2022, just before the pandemic hit the United States, according to one study. Analysis Released It was announced Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The increase in this period came while the study reported that a much higher proportion of teenagers and young adults than older adults had recently tried e-cigarettes.
About 4.5% of all adults said they use e-cigarettes, according to the CDC. However, the price increased with age. About 14% of high school students and 11% of young people reported using a device within 30 days of the survey, according to CDC data.
Sales continued to grow until May last year, after which they fell 12% by December. Researchers say some of the factors that could account for this decline include state or local bans on flavored products. government enforcement. And the introduction of devices that offer thousands of “puffs” in a single device.
Overall, four-week e-cigarette sales rose from 15.5 million in early 2020 to 25.9 million by the end of last year.
Why it matters: The effects of e-cigarettes are still unknown
The Food and Drug Administration has embraced the use of e-cigarettes and regulates their marketing as an aid to adult smokers transitioning to less harmful products.
But amid rising nicotine concerns over e-cigarettes, anti-tobacco and public health experts warn that popular gadgets turn teens and young adults less likely to smoke traditional cigarettes into an addictive habit. warned that he was luring into
The CDC’s analysis supports data showing that fruit and candy flavors are booming in popularity. E-cigarettes often contain high levels of nicotine and come in attractive colors and flavors, such as strawberry ice cream and mango ice cream.
American Heart Association calls for more action to reduce youth e-cigarette use scientific statement Last year, he said e-cigarettes appeared to increase the risk of heart and lung disease. The American Lung Association also express concernsaid it was “very troubled by the mounting evidence of e-cigarette effects on the lungs,” citing known and unknown toxic effects of the chemicals used in e-cigarettes.
Background: Youth e-cigarette use was on the rise
Findings are limited because the CDC study did not include e-cigarettes, cigarette store sales, or internet sales.
Still, trends have changed in the last few years. E-cigarette use among teens is down from a record high in 2019, when nearly 28% of high school students reported having smoked an e-cigarette in the past 30 days. At the time, sleek products made by Juul Labs were the most popular, and the company was largely blamed for the surge in teenage e-cigarette adoption. Since then, Jules has settled countless lawsuits filed by many states and individuals, resulting in settlements totaling nearly $3 billion.
The FDA has rejected millions of product applications to enter the market, approving only about 24 tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes. But authorities have struggled with enforcement. Flavored e-cigarettes abound at gas stations, convenience stores, and e-cigarette shops nationwide.
In recent weeks, the agency won a court case against the makers of Hyde e-cigarettes, which are popular among high school students in a recent youth tobacco study. Elf Bar Vapes are growing in popularity, according to the latest CDC report. The FDA issued an import alert on Thursday for possible border seizures. announced enforcement To approximately 200 retailers selling these e-cigarettes and Esco Bar products.
What’s next: regulation and enforcement
The FDA said it plans to make final decisions on marketing applications for the remaining e-cigarette products by the end of the year to address hot-selling products such as Vuse and Juul.
Tobacco control advocates are pressuring the FDA to crack down on unapproved e-cigarettes and also move forward with a proposed ban on menthol cigarettes.
Many stakeholders are also watching the impact of the statewide flavor ban rolling out in California. The ban is similar to six other states and more than 300 jurisdictions. Sales of e-cigarette products fell 35% by the end of March after the ban took effect on December 21, according to the report. data from CDC Foundation.
