CDC’s Deceptive Release of 2015 NYTS Data

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the American Vaping Association, a leading advocate for the benefits of vapor products and e-cigarettes, criticized the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) for making misleading claims about teen tobacco and vapor product usage.

“No decline in overall youth tobacco use since 2011,” declares a new press release from the agency announcing the results of the 2015 National Youth Tobacco Survey. But is that really the truth?

AVA President Gregory Conley released the following statement:

“The CDC’s staggeringly dishonest claim that tobacco use has not declined since 2011 relies on the deceptive characterization of vapor products as ‘tobacco products.’ The agency is abusing definitions in an attempt to alarm the public and generate headlines. Vapor products contain no tobacco and many do not even contain nicotine. Indeed, the 2015 Monitoring the Future [MTF] survey found that only approximately 20% of past month youth e-cigarette users reported vaping nicotine. “

“For a full picture of tobacco and vapor product usage in 2015, these results should be read in conjunction with those from the 2015 MTF study. In contrast to today’s NYTS data, the MTF study found significant decreases in teen smoking and a slight decrease in teen vaping from 2014 to 2015. The CDC knows that key findings from these two widely respected surveys are in conflict, but the agency would rather politicize the issue than give all the facts.”

Gregory Conley also commented on additional findings from the 2014 NYTS that should be kept in mind:

“An analysis of the 2014 NYTS data by Dr. Brad Rodu revealed that 90% of past month e-cigarette users were smokers or previous smokers, while just 10% were never smokers. With youth smoking falling between 40-50% between 2010 and 2014, allegations that vapor products are somehow a gateway to combustible cigarettes have no basis in evidence.

“Additionally, data from the 2014 NYTS also shows the stark contrast in how often youth are using vapor products and cigarettes. Nearly half of all past month e-cigarette users had vaped just 1-2 days of the month, with only approximately 16% of past month users reporting vaping more than 20 days in the month.”

Days of the month usage data for cigarettes and vapor products is reproduced below.

Frequency of use in last 30 days (High School students) (2014 NYTS)
% using	Cigarettes	E-cigarettes
1–2 days	37.0	45.4
3–5 days	12.3	16.2
6–9 days	9.7	12.0
10–19 days	9.4	10.9
20–29 days	9.0	5.8
All 30 days	22.6	9.7
	100.0	100.0