Huge progress has been made over the past few decades in reducing cigarette use among young people. But tobacco use ' primarily through e-cigarettes, also known as vapes ' remains a complex problem for public health and policy. In 2024, just over 8% of U.S. middle and high school students reported having used a tobacco product. Among tobacco users, nearly 6% used e-cigarettes, more than a quarter of whom used an e-cigarette product daily. According to our research, many adolescents who smoke and use vapes are aware of the health risks associated with tobacco use, which demonstrates the effectiveness of public health education campaigns. But our research has also found that some adolescents also view tobacco use as helpful in relieving emotional distress. These perceived benefits increase the likelihood of initiating and continuing tobacco use. When combined with factors such as easy access to tobacco products or living with someone who uses them, the risk of adolescent use more than...
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