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Tag: youth tobacco use

  • Geek Bar Leads with Youth Vapers

    Geek Bar Leads with Youth Vapers

    About 1.44 million U.S. middle and high school students used e-cigarettes in early 2025, with 64.1% of youth vapers reporting use of Geek Bar, according to an Oct. 5 Public Health Alert published by the University of Minnesota’s Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy and NEJM Evidence. The analysis of the 2025 National Youth Tobacco Survey found that 5.2% of students currently vaped, while approximately 460,000 used nicotine pouches, 69.2% of whom reported using Zyn.

    Fruit was the most popular vape flavor, while mint led among pouch users. The report noted that Geek Bar’s share had increased sharply from 2024, when Elf Bar was the leading brand. The FDA has said Geek Bar products are not authorized for sale in the United States.

  • ACHE Cites Evidence That Youth Tobacco Measures Are Working

    ACHE Cites Evidence That Youth Tobacco Measures Are Working

    Today (May 27), the Asian Coalition for Health Empowerment (ACHE) shared its outlook based on the FDA’s 2025 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) data that was released earlier this year, pointing to continued declines in youth tobacco and nicotine use while calling for more balanced, evidence-based regulation. The FDA data showed overall youth tobacco use fell to 7.5% in 2025 from 8.1% in 2024, while youth e-cigarette use dropped to 5.2% — the lowest level recorded in a decade. Use of nicotine pouches remained relatively low and stable at 1.7%, while use of other oral nicotine products, such as gums and lozenges, declined sharply to 0.6%.

    Following the release of the data, ACHE brought together public health experts and policy voices to discuss implications for tobacco harm reduction and future regulation. Dr. Anjum Datta said the results highlight the value of sustained public health strategies that combine awareness, regulation, and behavioral interventions, while cautioning against policies that could unintentionally limit harm reduction options for adult smokers. Dr. Dewesh Kumar said the findings support targeted regulation and youth protections without relying on “extreme prohibitive measures,” adding that adult smoking cessation efforts should remain part of the broader public health discussion.