1 in 9 Teens Use E-Cigarettes in Brazil, 5 Times More Than Traditional Smoking
Approximately 1 in 9 Brazilian teenagers (8.7% of those aged 14-17) reported using electronic cigarettes in the past year, a rate significantly higher than youth use of traditional cigarettes (1.7%), according to a new survey by the Federal University of São Paulo (Unifesp). The study, based on data collected between 2022 and 2024 from over 16,000 people aged 14 and older across Brazil, marks the first time the Third National Survey on Alcohol and Drugs (Lenad 3) has included vape use.
The findings reveal that e-cigarette use among these teenagers is already five times higher than traditional smoking and also surpasses the rate of adult vape use (5.4%). Interestingly, among teens, usage was more prevalent among girls (9.8%) than boys (7.7%).
Clarice Madruga, research coordinator and professor of psychiatry at Unifesp, expressed concern that this trend is disrupting previous successes in curbing nicotine consumption. “We had a wonderful history of successful public policies that led to a sharp decline in smoking, but this new challenge [e-cigarettes] completely broke that trajectory,” she stated. Madruga pointed out that despite e-cigarettes being officially banned in Brazil, they are easily purchased online, increasing accessibility. She also highlighted health risks, noting that the inhalation of highly toxic substances like nicotine can be significantly higher in e-cigarettes than in traditional ones, emphasizing the “urgency of investigating, understanding, and preparing for this phenomenon.”
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