[Washington = Shunsuke Akagi] E-cigarettes have emerged as a new social problem in the United States.According to the latest survey by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 14.1% of high school students nationwide said they had smoked e-cigarettes between January and May 2022.The use of e-cigarettes is spreading among junior high school students and others, and there are a series of lawsuits targeting e-cigarette sales companies.

It was jointly compiled by the CDC and the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Cigarette smoking rates are declining in the United States, but youth use of e-cigarettes is on the rise.In this survey, 3.3% of junior high school students answered that they have used it.

84.9% of middle and high school students who had ever used e-cigarettes smoked flavored e-cigarettes with fruit or mint flavors.It was found that 42.3% of junior high and high school students who tried e-cigarettes even once continued to smoke regularly.

In June, the FDA issued an order banning U.S. e-cigarette giant Juul Labs from selling e-cigarette products domestically.The company has also been sued for promoting sales to minors.Some have called for more regulation of e-cigarettes, which they say are increasing nicotine addiction among young people.