CDC 2024 statistics

In 2024, e-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product among middle and high school students in the United States:

• 1.63 million (5.9%) students currently used e-cigarettes. This includes:
  • 410,000 (3.5%) middle school students.
  • 1.21 million (7.8%) high school students.

• Among students who currently used e-cigarettes:
  • 55.6% used disposable e-cigarettes, 15.6% used prefilled or refillable pods or cartridges, and 7.0% used tanks or mod systems.

Most middle and high school students who vape want to quit and have tried to quit.5 In 2020:

• 63.9% of students who currently used e-cigarettes reported wanting to quit.
• 67.4% of students who currently used e-cigarettes reported trying to quit in the last year.

Disposable Market

United States Sales

• From February 2, 2020, to December 31, 2023, disposable e-cigarette unit sales in the U.S. surged by 212.4%, rising from 4.1 million to 12.7 million units. ​cdcfoundation.org+1cdc.gov+1
• In 2021, sales of disposable, non-refillable e-cigarette products increased from $261.9 million in 2020 to $267.1 million. ​ftc.gov

Global Market

• The global disposable e-cigarette market was valued at $5.7 billion in 2021 and is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 11.2% from 2022 to 2030. ​grandviewresearch.com

Youth Usage

• Disposable e-cigarettes have become increasingly popular among youth. In 2023, 60.7% of youth who used e-cigarettes reported using disposable types, with fruit and candy flavors being the most popular.
• The top three e-cigarettes used by middle and high schoolers are Elf Bar, Breeze and Mr. Fog, each of which are Chinese-owned, according to the CDC. 
  • None of the three brands are approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the agency has previously issued warning letters to retailers regarding unauthorized sales of each.
  • The three brands together made up more than 70% of youth e-cigarette use reported in the CDC analysis.

Violations

Just this year, since January 1, there have been 17 violations for buying tobacco products from an unlicensed dealer. And 58 violations of selling to minors. Those are just the places that were caught.

Health Consequences

​Vaping exposes users to various substances, including heavy metals like lead and compounds such as ethanol, which can have harmful health effects. Here's an overview of the potential risks associated with these substances:​

Lead Exposure from Vaping

• Sources in E-Cigarettes: Lead can leach into e-cigarette aerosols from components like heating coils. Studies have detected significant amounts of lead in both the e-liquids and the resulting aerosols inhaled by users.publichealth.jhu.edu+1factor.niehs.nih.gov+1

• Health Risks: Inhalation of lead is associated with serious neurological damage, particularly affecting the developing brains of children and adolescents. Chronic exposure can lead to cardiovascular issues, kidney dysfunction, and impaired cognitive and behavioral functions. ​

• Youth Vulnerability: Research indicates that frequent teen vapers may have higher levels of lead exposure, potentially harming brain and organ development. ​bmjgroup.com

Exposure to substances like lead and ethanol through vaping can have significant physical and cognitive impacts. Here's an in-depth look at these effects:​

Lead Exposure: Physical and Cognitive Effects

• Cognitive Impairments: Lead exposure is strongly associated with cognitive deficits. Even low levels can impair attention, processing speed, visuospatial abilities, working memory, and motor functions. ​pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

• Behavioral Changes: Children exposed to lead may exhibit inattentiveness, hyperactivity, irritability, and, at higher levels, learning difficulties, delayed growth, and hearing loss. ​aacap.org

• Neurological Effects: Chronic lead exposure can lead to neurological symptoms such as headaches, abdominal pain, memory loss, kidney failure, and peripheral neuropathy, manifesting as weakness, pain, or tingling in the extremities. ​

• Long-Term Consequences: Early childhood lead exposure has been linked to lasting cognitive impairments, affecting intelligence and behavior into adulthood. ​jefferson.edu+1twin-cities.umn.edu+1

Ethanol Inhalation: Physical and Cognitive Effects

• Neurological Activation: Inhalation of alcohol vapor can activate brain regions associated with reward and addiction, such as the nucleus accumbens and amygdala. ​pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

• Cognitive and Motor Impairments: Chronic occupational exposure to alcohol vapors has been linked to symptoms like fatigue, headaches, balance problems, muscle pain, and cognitive impairments. ​tandfonline.com