CDC sees big jump in use of electronic cigarettes among teens

Friday, September 6, 2013  

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)