Washington, 19 September 2019. Data from the 2019 Monitoring
the Future Survey of eighth, 10th and 12th graders show alarmingly high rates
of e-cigarette use compared to just a year ago, with rates doubling in the past
two years. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, scientists who coordinate and
evaluate the survey released the data early to The New England Journal of
Medicine (NEJM) to notify public health officials working to reduce vaping by
teens. The survey is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA),
part of the National Institutes of Health.
One fourth of 12th graders use e-cigarette
The new data show a significant increase in past month vaping of nicotine in each of the three grade levels since 2018. In 2019, the prevalence of past month nicotine vaping was more than 1 in 4 students in 12th grade; 1 in 5 in 10th grade, and 1 in 11 in eighth grade.
“With 25% of 12th graders, 20% of 10th graders and 9% of
eighth graders now vaping nicotine within the past month, the use of these
devices has become a public health crisis,” said NIDA Director Dr. Nora D.
Volkow. “These products introduce the highly addictive chemical nicotine to
these young people and their developing brains, and I fear we are only
beginning to learn the possible health risks and outcomes for youth.”
“Parents with school-aged children should begin paying close
attention to these devices, which can look like simple flash drives, and
frequently come in flavors that are appealing to youth,” said University of
Michigan lead researcher Dr. Richard Miech. “National leaders can assist
parents by stepping up and implementing policies and programs to prevent use of
these products by teens.”
What are electronic cigarettes?
Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, e-vaporizers, or electronic nicotine delivery systems, are battery-operated devices that people use to inhale an aerosol, which typically contains nicotine (though not always), flavorings, and other chemicals. They can resemble traditional tobacco cigarettes (cig-a-likes), cigars, or pipes, or even everyday items like pens or USB memory sticks.
- Netflix’s Penalty Is Trending, Hitting All the Right Notes
- Blood-based biomarker can detect, predict severity of traumatic brain injury : Study
- Researchers develops battery operated portable ventilator
- How will India deliver COVID-19 vaccine for “public health use” by 15 August 2020?
- WHO discontinues hydroxychloroquine and lopinavir/ritonavir treatment arms for COVID-19