Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Teen e-cigarette use raises concerns

Mcclatchy-Tribune

WASHINGTON – More high school students are using electronic cigarettes, according to new findings, raising concerns among health officials that the growing diversification of tobacco products could get more young people addicted to nicotine.

While a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that the overall percentage of teens using tobacco products hasn’t increased since 2012, health advocates were hoping to see a decrease.

Earlier this year, a CDC report marking the 50th anniversary of the first U.S. surgeon general’s report on the dangers of tobacco predicted that 5.6 million young people up to age 17 “will die early from a cigarette smoking-related illness.”

The CDC report issued Thursday found that nearly one in four high school students reported using a tobacco product in the past 30 days.

The CDC said that 4.5 percent of high school students last year said they used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, compared with 2.8 percent in 2012.

E-cigarettes are battery-powered cigarettes that contain nicotine and emit a smoke-like vapor. Usage is up dramatically.