Montana Youth & E-cigarettes

Since the FDA placed flavor restrictions on pod-based e-cigarette products, like JUUL, disposable products, like Elf Bar, have increased in popularity. 

Disposable e-cigarette use among current U.S. high school e-cigarette users increased by about 1000% during 2019-2020. ⁴ 

 _{Image source: Truth Initiative} 

• The use of e-cigarettes among Montana's high school students and young adults is 4x that of Montana adults 25+. ^{1, 2}  
• Frequent and daily e-cigarette use among Montana high school students both increased by almost 200% from 2015 to 2023. ³ 

E-cigarette use is higher among female, American Indian and Hispanic/Latino students.

Racial disparities exist among e-cigarette users. Current e-cigarette use among American Indian youth (40%) and Hispanic/Latino youth (35%) is significantly higher than other racial groups. ¹ 

More female high school students use e-cigarettes than male high school students in Montana. ¹ 

Almost all (99%) e-cigarettes sold in U.S. convenience stores contain nicotine. ⁷ 

Nicotine, in any form, is unsafe for youth. Nicotine is highly addictive and can prime the brain for addiction to other drugs in the future.

Youth are uniquely at risk for long-lasting effects of nicotine exposure because the brain continues developing until about age 25.

Nicotine exposure during adolescence harms the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control.

 ^{Video source:  FDA Next Legend's Campaign}  

E-cigarettes come in over 15,500 different flavors, like cotton candy, skittles, O.M.G. and unicorn puke. ¹¹ 

Flavors mask the harshness of tobacco products, making it easier for kids to start and become addicted. Most (96%) youth e-cigarette users started with a flavored product. ¹¹ 

Among Montana high school students who used e-cigarettes in 2023, 99% reported using non-tobacco flavored products. ¹² 

Image source: Truth Initiative

The tobacco industry spends $29 million each year in Montana promoting their products. ¹³   

E-cigarettes are advertised using celebrity endorsements, cartoon characters, sport and event sponsorships and social media influencers.

In 2021, 76% of U.S. middle and high school students had been exposed to e-cigarette marketing. ¹⁴ 

• Start with questions.
  • "I saw something on Facebook about vaping. Do you know what vaping is?"
  • "Do you know anyone at school who vapes?"
  • "How do you feel about vaping?"
  • "Have you seen any vape videos pop up while you're on social media?"
• Acknowledge independence and appreciate honesty. Express trust in the child to make good decisions for themselves. Be ready to hear that the child is vaping. Make sure you thank them for being honest, then follow-up with concern for their health.
• Blame Big Tobacco, not the kid. Nine out of ten current smokers started before the age of eighteen. This is the result of Big Tobacco's tactics to allure new life-long users.

Set a healthy example for children and protect family members, guests and pets by keeping your home free of commercial tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Secondhand smoke and e-cigarette aerosol contains chemicals that can harm your health and increase the risk for heart disease, lung disease and cancer. 

Steps to creating a tobacco-free environment:

1. Don't allow smoking or vaping inside your home or vehicle.
2. If you live in a building that allows smoking,  ask your landlord to adopt a smokefree policy. 
3. If you smoke or vape,  get help to quit .