As overall monthly unit sales of e-cigarettes increased by 46.6% from January 2020–December 2022, according to June 2023 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), tobacco cessation advocates continue to fight an uphill battle. Purchases grew from 15.5 million units to 22.7 million units in the study period.
The agency reported that sales of prefilled devices decreased, but sales of disposable devices and youth-appealing flavors, such as fruit and candy, increased.
“The dramatic spikes in youth e-cigarette use back in 2017 and 2018, primarily driven by JUUL, showed us how quickly e-cigarette sales and use patterns can change,” Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, PhD, MPH, director of CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, said. “Retail sales data are key to providing real-time information on the rapidly changing e-cigarette landscape, which is essential to reducing youth tobacco use.”
Electronic cigarettes, flavored tobacco, and vaping devices remain popular among the public. Nurses’ voices as one of the most trusted professions are needed more than ever to raise awareness and provide education on the benefits of tobacco use reduction.