The use of electronic cigarettes among teens doubled from 2011 to 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported today.

Only about 2 percent of students said they used e-cigarettes within the previous month. But health officials are worried because the product -- which often masks nicotine with chocolate, mint or other flavors -- is growing in popularity.

"E-cigarette experimentation and recent use doubled among U.S. middle and high school students during 2011–2012, resulting in an estimated 1.78 million students having ever used e-cigarettes as of 2012," the CDC said in the latest issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

The report did not include figures on the use of e-cigarettes by race or ethnicity. American Indian and Alaska Native youth typically report the highest use of tobacco.

Get the Story:
Kids’ use of e-cigarettes increasing ; health officials worry it will lead to regular smoking (AP 9/5)
E-cigarette use among middle and high school students skyrockets, CDC data show (The Washington Post 9/6)
Rise Is Seen in Students Who Use E-Cigarettes (The New York Times 9/6)

Get the Report:
Notes from the Field: Electronic Cigarette Use Among Middle and High School Students — United States, 2011–2012 (MMWR September 6, 2013)