TPA’s Latest 50 State Analysis Examines Adult and Youth E-Cigarette Use

The latest 50 state analysis from the Taxpayers Protection Alliance’s Consumer Center examines adult and youth e-cigarette use in 2021 in 49 states and Washington, D.C. Due to Florida not reporting data for 2021, its state analysis is unavailable at this time.  The analysis uses data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System survey to examine the number of adult e-cigarette users in each state. Cross-referencing population data, each analysis estimates the specific number of adults who vape and certain age characteristics. Each analysis also examines youth e-cigarette use over the years using data from the CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Every state examined saw tremendous growth in adults using e-cigarettes and a downward trend in youth e-cigarette use.  For example, in 2021, 16.1 million adults 18 years or older were using e-cigarettes. This was a 32.6 percent increase from 2017 (the CDC’s BRFSS only offers e-cigarette use data for 2016, 2017 and 2021). Conversely, youth vaping seems to have peaked in 2019 when 32.7 percent of youth were using e-cigarettes. Between 2019 and 2021, youth use of e-cigarettes decreased by 45 percent.

As a safer alternative to combustible cigarettes, policymakers should be aware of the adults who rely on e-cigarettes to quit and remain smoke-free.

View all 50 reports here and below.