Secondhand E-Cigarette and Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Stages of E-Cigarette Use in US 6th–12th Graders

This study uses the latest data from the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey to highlight how the prevalence of secondhand e-cigarette and tobacco exposure among US 6-12 graders remains quite high (64.2%, 18.18 million) despite decreases in youth tobacco and e-cigarette use since 2019. Furthermore, unlike prior studies limited to examining a single stage of e-cigarette use, this study examines how robust measures of secondhand exposure correlate with outcomes spanning the stages of e-cigarette use: susceptibility, ever use, daily use, and quit attempts. Ultimately, it reinforces secondhand exposure among US youth as an important and timely public health challenge.