Emergency room visits in Virginia reveal a significant shift from traditional tobacco use to vaping and e-cigarettes. Data from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association (VHHA) shows that since 2020, ER visits by patients who reported vaping have surged by 109%, totaling 49,356 visits last year. In contrast, visits by traditional tobacco users, including those who smoke cigarettes or use chewing tobacco, dropped by 25% over the same period. This aligns with broader trends identified by the CDC and WHO, which report a steady decline in traditional tobacco use and a rise in e-cig and vape usage, particularly among youth.

The dramatic increase in vaping-related ER visits underscores a growing public health concern. Last year, 10% of K-12 students in Virginia reported using tobacco, with middle school usage on the rise despite a decline among high school students. The popularity of smokeless nicotine products like Zyn, fueled by social media “Zynfluencers,” also highlights the evolving landscape of nicotine consumption. Health officials and educators are closely monitoring these trends, emphasising the need for updated public health strategies to address the shift from traditional tobacco to new forms of nicotine use.

Source: Axios