TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - While teen cigarette smoking rates are at an all-time low in Florida, the number of kids using e-cigarettes remains high.
New numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that only 4.2 percent of Florida high schoolers smoke traditional cigarettes, which is far below the national average.
However, the use of electronic cigarettes among kids has increased dramatically in recent years.
Nearly 16 percent of teens vape using e-cigarettes, a higher rate of use than with any other nicotine product.
Chloe Hale with the Florida Department of Health says vaping is not safer than traditional smoking, adding that e-cigarettes are also addictive.
“They do promote dual use. Basically, if someone starts using e-cigarette products, they are more likely to also continue or start using conventional cigarettes as well," said Hale.
Hale says nine out of every ten smokers take up the habit prior to turning 18, making it even more important to focus on getting younger kids to stop vaping.
On average, it takes eight to ten attempts to finally stop smoking. To get help quitting, call 1-877-U-CAN-NOW or visit TobaccoFreeFlorida.com.
