High School Vaping Rates Drop While Middle School Tobacco Use Rises, According to Latest Federal Health Survey

Flavor bans and education campaigns linked to decrease in high school vaping, but uptick in middle school tobacco use exposes target for potential industry exploitation.

High school vaping rates fell from 14% in 2022 to 10% in 2023, leading to a total decrease of 540,000 students according to the CDC's National Youth Tobacco Survey.
Despite this decline, middle school tobacco use rose from 4.5% to 6.6% during the same period. E-cigarettes, particularly those with flavors, remained the most used tobacco products among both middle and high school students.
Public health officials attribute the decrease in high school vaping rates to flavor bans and education campaigns. In California, a flavor ban led to a drop of nearly 70% in flavored e-cigarette sales over six months.
While Juul, once the most popular e-cigarette brand among young people, has withdrawn most of its flavored products, the most used e-cigarette brands currently reported by students include Elf Bar and Esco Bar, which are known for flavors like strawberry kiwi and watermelon ice.
Public health and antismoking advocates are calling for stronger enforcement by the FDA against unauthorized vaping products flooding the market, including an import ban on products from companies such as Elf Bar and Esco Bar. The FDA has pledged to continue enforcement efforts, including fines for retailers selling these products illegally.