More than 2 million middle and high school students said they used e-cigarettes last year, the American Lung Association found in its 20th annual State of Tobacco Control report.
The report evaluates state and federal policies taken to eliminate tobacco use and recommends proven-effective tobacco control policies and laws. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tobacco use is still being assessed, the report noted.
Key findings:
- The country has made progress the last 20 years through comprehensive smoke-free laws, increasing tobacco taxes and increasing access to treatments to help Americans quit smoking through state Medicaid programs.
- E-cigarette companies appear to be using synthetic nicotine as a legal loophole in an attempt to evade the Tobacco Control Act, which restricts tobacco marketing and sales to the youth, as the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products asserts its authority only covers nicotine derived from tobacco.
- Cigarette sales increased for the first time in 20 years in 2020, but it’s unclear if the increase reflects higher adult smoking rates or existing smokers smoking more.
- Smoking remains high among Native Americans and Alaskan Natives at 20.9 percent, and among lesbian, gay and bisexual adults, at 19.2 percent.
- Children ages 3-11, Black Americans, persons living in poverty and people with a high school education or less are disproportionately exposed to secondhand smoke.