While teen cigarette smoking hits record low in Virginia, e-cig use rises

Monique Calello | The News Leader

RICHMOND – According to the Virginia Department of Health, teen cigarette smoking in Virginia is at an all-time low – 6.5 percent, according to a recent survey by the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth.

Nationally, an estimated 7.6 percent of high school students are current cigarette smokers, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

However, five percent of Virginia high school students currently drink alcohol, 2 percent use marijuana and at least 11.8 percent are current e-cigarette users.

“While we are heartened by the continuing downward trend of youth cigarette smoking, we remain concerned that young people are at risk of marijuana use as well as alcohol and nicotine addiction,” said Marty Kilgore, executive director of Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth in a release issued by the VDH.

In September, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb expressed concerns about a national increase in teen marijuana use.

About one in five teens (19.8 percent) reported using marijuana in 2017, according to the CDC’s national Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System survey. Research shows that both marijuana and nicotine have adverse effects on developing adolescent brains.

Gottlieb also announced last month that youth e-cigarette usage has become a national epidemic and announced the FDA’s intention to curb “kid-friendly” industry marketing practices and retail sales to underage buyers.

Gottlieb particularly singled out JUUL, the top-selling e-cigarette device on the market. Educators and public health experts report that teens are using JUUL, which resembles a USB flash drive, in increasing numbers. Each flavored JUUL pod, a cartridge of liquid nicotine solution, contains about the same amount of nicotine as an entire pack of traditional cigarettes.

More: JUUL in school? Warning for parents and teachers

In a statement issued Nov. 15 by the FDA, Gottlieb announced, "Today, we advance our efforts to combat youth access and appeal with a policy framework that firmly and directly addresses the core of the epidemic – flavors. The data show that kids using e-cigarettes are going to be more likely to try combustible cigarettes later."

The following Tuesday, JUUL announced it was removing flavored pods from more than 90,000 retail stores, convenience stores and vape shops.

It is unclear in the survey whether the 11.8 percent of Virginia high school students who reported using e-cigarettes included JUUL users. The survey did not include language about JUUL, which teens may consider to be different from an e-cigarette. JUUL users typically use the term "JUUL-ing” instead of the word vaping, which is associated with other e-cigarette devices.

More than two million middle and high school students were current e-cigarette users in 2017, according to the CDC, and for the fourth year in a row, JUUL devices were the most commonly used nicotine-delivery products among teens.

VIDEO: What is a Juul? A new smoking trend is shaking up the e-cig industry, but it's trickling down into area high schools. Video by Jessica Saggio, FLORIDA TODAY

The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth is responsible for statewide efforts to prevent and reduce youth tobacco use, childhood obesity and substance use. A scientifically selected sample of more than 11,000 public and charter middle and high school students were surveyed at over 140 schools in 55 school districts statewide during fall 2017 for the survey.

“An integral part of the Virginia plan for well-being is to reduce premature death, disease and disability related to tobacco use among young people by preventing tobacco use and promoting quitting," said Norman Oliver, Virginia state health commissioner. "This survey underscores the importance of collaboration and community engagement in assuring healthier behaviors in our youth and adults.”

The purchase and use of tobacco products and e-cigarettes by children under 18 years of age is prohibited under state law in Virginia.

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Monique Calello can be reached at mcalello@newsleader.com.