(Washington Post Illustration; iStock)
Over 15 percent (15.5) of young adults ages 21 to 24 used electronic cigarettes in 2023, according to a report from the National Center for Health Statistics.
To determine trends in vaping, data was drawn from the 2019-2023 National Health Interview Survey, a nationally representative household survey of the U.S. civilian noninstitutionalized population. Collected continually throughout the year by the NCHS, interviews are conducted face-to-face in respondents’ homes.
In the early portion of the survey period, 2019 to 2020, the percentage of adults age 18 and older who used e-cigarettes decreased from 4.5 to 3.7 percent. That trend later reversed, with e-cigarette use increasing to 6.5 percent in 2023. Overall, use decreased with age after age 25, and men vaped more frequently than women.
Broken down by race and ethnicity, e-cigarette use significantly increased from 2019 to 2023 among Black (3.4 to 5.7 percent), White (5.1 to 7.5 percent) and Hispanic (2.8 to 4.4 percent) adults. The increases seen in Asian and multiple-race adults were not significant.
Because e-cigarettes, like other tobacco products, contain nicotine, the report raises concerns about their increasing use among young adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nicotine use during adolescence may adversely affect brain regions responsible for attention, learning, mood regulation and impulse control. Because of those harmful effects, the survey concludes: “As 1 in 10 adults ages 18 to 20 and about 1 in 6 adults ages 21 to 24 used electronic cigarettes in 2023, continued monitoring of use, particularly among young adults, is needed.”
This article is part of The Post’s “Big Number” series, which takes a brief look at the statistical aspect of health issues. Additional information and relevant research are available through the hyperlinks.