Action 9: New study shows more teens are vaping

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — According to a new study, in 2017, 11 percent of high school seniors admitted vaping in the previous 30 days.

In 2018, ­21 percent did.

The 10 percent jump is the largest ever recorded in that project's 43-year history.  It's more than alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, or painkillers ever climbed from one year to the next.

A local vaping store owner told Action 9 this new study is only part of the story.  He says more teens are vaping instead of smoking, which he says is good.  He points to this study the British government did.

The most popular e-cigarette is JUUL.

It looks like a flash drive; so discreet, some teens say they sneak it in school.  About ten days ago, news broke that the biggest cigarette company in the country bought 35 percent of JUUL, worth roughly $13 billion.

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein is investigating JUUL's business practices.  He called vaping an "epidemic" and recently tweeted, "I refuse to allow another generation of young people to become addicted to nicotine."

JUUL acknowledged there's a problem.

In a video released in November, CEO Kevin Burns said, "An unintended, serious problem has developed: underage usage of our product."  He added, "As the industry leader, we must lead the category in decreasing underage use."

That same day, JUUL stopped selling flavored pods to stores.  Now, they're only available online.

The company also stopped advertising on Facebook and Instagram.

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