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National Institutes of Health (NIH) Survey Shows Increase in E-Cig Use Among Youth

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The 2014 Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey released today by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA is part of the National Institutes of Health) and conducted by University of Michigan researchers shows high rates for e-cigarettes use by teens.  The survey results showed that “past-month use” of e-cigarettes by eighth graders is 8.7%, for 10th graders is 16.2%, and for 12th graders is 17.1%. This year marks the first time that MTF surveyed for e-cigarette use by teens.  

The survey also showed that daily cigarette smoking has decreased markedly over the past five years (almost 50 percent) across all grades. For eighth graders, it dropped to 1.4% compared to 2.7% five years ago. Among 10th graders, it dropped to 3.2% compared to 6.3% five years ago. Among high school seniors, it dropped to 6.7%, down from 8.5% last year and 11.2% five years ago.

41,551 students from 377 public and private schools participated in this year’s MTF survey. The 2014 results are part of an overall two-decade trend among the nation’s youth. The MTF survey measures drug use and attitudes among eighth, 10th, and 12th graders, is funded by NIDA.

Read the NIH press release and University of Michigan’s press release which contains links to the survey’s data tables.