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From 2011 to 2014, the smoking rate among teens in Minnesota dropped from 18.1 percent to 10.6 percent. This is according to a new study from the state’s Department of Health. It appears as though electronic cigarettes might be influencing this decline.

You can read more about the study right here.

Youth Tobacco Surveys throughout the country have been noting a decline in tobacco use by teens for decades. In the late 2000’s, these rate declines appeared to stagnate a bit. However, it appears that in the last few years smoking decline has been revitalized by something.

Anti-smoking groups are very quick to lay claim to the credit for these declining rates, but many experts are suspecting that electronic cigarette may be the real silver bullet which is making a difference. The survey found that 12.9 percent of teens had used electronic cigarettes at least once in the 30 days previous to the survey. A similar statistic isn’t even available for 2011 because electronic cigarettes were almost completely under the radar of regulatory groups — and teens too.

Tobacco sales have always found their foundation in teen use. Addiction, quite plain and simple, is strongest when it grabs hold of an individuals as early on as possible. The likelihood of someone becoming a smoking drops off almost entirely if they make it to the age of 21 without becoming addicted. This is why some cities and states are attempting to raise the legal smoking age to 21.

Opponents of electronic cigarettes are quick to claim the devices might re-glamorize smoking and some recent TV ads certainly make that seem possible. However, many experts agree that a strong, unimpeded marketing and advertising push for the products is exactly what the world needs to truly see tobacco cigarettes made obsolete. Many experts even believe that in the absence of smoke, nicotine is not as addictive and easier to quit.