A growing number of American teenagers are using e-cigarettes. A new report from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research offers a close look at the demographics of California teens who vape.
The study, which is based on data from a statewide survey, reveals e-cigarette use is more common among teens of higher-income families, where English is the only language spoken in the home.
Debra Kelley, with the American Lung Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties, says traditionally, lower-achieving teens from poorer families have been more likely to use tobacco.
“So with e-cigarettes we’ve kind of flipped that," she said. "And so now we’re looking at kids in upper and middle-income levels, who do well in school, and they see this a low-risk product.”
Researchers say e-cigarettes emit vapor that contains a number of toxins, including formaldehyde. The long-term health risks of e-cigarettes are not yet known.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 13.4 percent of high school students used e-cigarettes in 2014, compared to 4.5 percent in 2013.
