A study of electronic cigarette use among youth

Currently electronic cigarettes are becoming popular, especially among youth (middle and high school students). Their usage is being debated concerning their role in smoking cessation. The electronic cigarette, also known as e-cigarette, is an electronic nicotine delivery system. It is a mechanical device designed to mimic regular cigarettes, looks like conventional cigarette, delivers nicotine through inhaling vapors without burning tobacco. Globally, as well as in the US, tobacco smoking has been the leading cause of preventable death. In 2015, an estimated 5 million middle and high school students were users of all kinds of tobacco products in the USA. Out of which, 3 million students have experimented with e-cigarettes. To assess the extent of e-cigarette experimenting among youth from 2011 to 2015 grade-wise and gender-wise. To analyze the 2015 data more extensively. National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) data is used from CDC, USA. Peer-reviewed articles from 2000 to 2016 were identified through electronic database Medline and Pub-Med on the electronic cigarettes, were reviewed and analyzed. The trend of experimenting with e-cigarettes at different ages and grades has been increasing steeply among youth. In the year 2015, about 45% of 12th graders experimented with e-cigarettes. Also, about 24% of females and 29% of male students have reported experimenting with e-cigarettes. Significantly, more Mexicans and Native Hawaiians, and fewer Asians tried e-cigarettes compared to the rest. There was no significant difference in experimenting with e-cigarettes among whites versus non-whites and African Americans versus non-African Americans. Our findings emphasize the need to make policy makers and school administrators aware of the extent of usage of e-cigarettes, especially, among juniors and seniors. Since the prevalence of e-cigarette use is steeply increasing over the past years, proper intervention programs should be implemented in schools for the benefit of targeted youth.