A Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) study found that 2.5 million American youths reported the use of e-cigarettes in 2022.
The results are troubling, given the inherent risks of e-cigarettes, including lung illnesses and the potential for device explosions.
The findings also mark a steep rise in the number of teens vaping, with nearly double the 2018 figure of 1.3 million users that year.
E-Cigarette Youth Use Statistics
According to the CDC/FDA report, 14.5 percent of high school students and 3 percent of middle school students had used e-cigarettes during the previous month. Among users, flavored vape devices made up 85 percent of all use among youths, with nearly 70 percent opting for a fruit-flavored variety.
E-cigarettes, which contain nicotine and are labeled “unsafe” for use, have been the most popular form of tobacco use for teenagers since 2014. The 2022 review found 27.6 percent of youths reporting daily use of e-cigarettes, while 40 percent had used on more than 20 days out of the previous 30.
Puff Bar (14.5 percent) and VUZE (12.5 percent) were the most popular brands reported, and more than half (55 percent) of respondents said they used disposable e-cigarettes.
E-Cigarette Health and Safety Risks
As of 2019, the CDC reported it was aware of 530 cases of pulmonary disease liked to use of e-cigarettes, including the case of a 17-year-old from Texas whose case baffled doctors until they learned of his vaping habits. Numerous state health departments – among them Wisconsin, Illinois, and Minnesota – announced plans to study the relationship between e-cigarettes or vape pens and the incidence of illness.
Vaping devices have also been linked to the otherwise unexplained occurrence of seizures in some users.
On the mechanical side, e-cigarettes are blamed for hundreds of burn injuries which occur when the heated device explodes. This happens due to defective lithium ion batteries used to heat the “juice” to a high enough temperature to produce the vapor that the user inhales.
In one tragic instance, a house fire that killed a Florida man was traced to his use of an e-cigarette.
Defective e-cigarette batteries can explode during use, but have also been known to combust on their own.
Attorneys at Johnson//Becker have represented numerous clients whose e-cigarette exploded and burned them.
Questions about an E-Cigarette Lawsuit?
If you or a loved one has been harmed by e-cigarettes, you may be entitled to compensation and should contact an attorney.
We offer a free case evaluation. Please contact us by using the form below or call us directly at 800-279-6386.
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