Study shows vaping boom in teens

(17 Dec 2018) Twice as many high school seniors used nicotine-tinged electronic cigarettes this year compared to last year, according to a large annual survey of teen smoking, drinking and drug use. It was the largest single-year jump ever seen in the survey's 44-year history, far surpassing the surge in marijuana smoking seen in 1976. "This is the largest increase we've ever seen," said Richard Miech of the University of Michigan, who leads the study. The study echoes the findings of a government survey of teens this year, that also found a dramatic rise in vaping. It said e-cigarette use nearly doubled this year among U.S. high school kids and was up about 50 percent among middle school kids. "I wouldn't call them surprising, so much. There've been a lot of reports in the media from schools where school principals report there's been a huge increase in vaping," Miech said. Experts attribute the jump to newer versions of e-cigarettes, like those by Juul Labs Inc. of San Francisco. These products resemble computer flash drives, can be recharged in USB ports and can be used discreetly. The federally-funded survey is conducted by University of Michigan researchers, and has been operating since 1975. This year's findings are based on responses from about 45,000 students in grades 8, 10 and 12 in schools across the country. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...