A new study shows the use of e-cigarettes by young people is on the rise. The 2014 National Youth Tobacco Survey, done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products, study shows that 13.4 percent of high schoolers are using the e-cigarettes.
Dr. Bob England with the Maricopa County Department of Health says he’s not surprised by the numbers but is worried about the long term effects of e-cigarettes.
“It could be decades before those effects show up in enough numbers for you to be able to actually see it," said England. "So, do we really want to hook another generation on a nicotine product that going to turn out to kill some of them potentially, 20, 30 , 40 years down the road. “
The study also showed a decline in the use of actual cigarettes in youths, but with e-cigarettes being unregulated, England says that they don’t know if they are actually better or worse for someone trying to quit.