Episode 019: The Ongoing Youth Vaping Epidemic: Understanding the 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS)

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) just released the latest figures about the youth vaping epidemic, the 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS). On today’s episode, Meredith and Dorian discuss how this important federal report contains some promising news: a decline in the number of teens regularly vaping, from 5.4 million to 3.6 million. However, these numbers, a return to 2018 figures, remain at “epidemic” levels, the term used then by FDA and the Surgeon General. The difference now is that these teens report more frequent use, possibly a sign of greater nicotine addiction. We’re also alarmed by a1000% increase in the use of disposable e-cigarettes and a rise in use of menthol-flavored products. That includes menthol JUUL, a flavor for which the company has filed for FDA approval, despite claiming it has abandoned flavors to discourage youth use.