UW Health Doctor Says Youth Vaping Rates are Increasing

Thursday, June 1st, 2023 -- 12:01 PM

(Bob Hague, WRN) Smoking rates are down, but vaping is increasing, especially among kids and young adults.

Dr. Brian Williams, a pediatric hospitalist with UW Health Kids, says 11.5% of American adults reported smoking in 2022, a big decline since smoking rates began being tracked in the 1960s.

But more people are using e-cigarettes, with data showing the highest percentage among those 18 to 25 years old, followed by adolescents ages 12 to 17. Federal data from 2022 shows 2.55 million U.S. middle and high schoolers reported vaping.

Williams said that’s "troubling," and vaping is the "new gateway" into nicotine addiction.

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