Tobacco News and Updates: Summer 2025
Nicotine Content in Vapes Continues To Increase
A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine reveals that nicotine content has increased dramatically since 2020. This is especially true for disposable vapes. Total nicotine content soared 249.2%between February 2020 and June 2024. Disposable vapes, popular with teens, now deliver the same amount of nicotine as a carton of cigarettes in a single, affordable device. By mid-2024, disposables contained nine times more e-liquid than cartridge-based devices at a much lower price point per milligram of nicotine. In Oklahoma, 21.8% of high school students vape. So, this news is especially alarming for public health.
Teen Nicotine Pouch Use Doubles in One Year
Nicotine pouch use among high school students nearly doubled from 2023 to 2024, according to a new study. These products have become popular on social media through “Zynfluencers” who falsely promote them as making users more “confident” and “sharp.” While vaping rates went down slightly during this time, many teens are now using both vapes and nicotine pouches together.
The long-term health effects of nicotine pouches aren’t known yet, but high levels of nicotine can lead to addiction and damage developing brains. Health experts are calling for better regulation and education to prevent more teens from using these products.
How Tobacco Cessation Support Services Help Oklahomans
Every year, the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline helps thousands of Oklahomans quit tobacco. The Helpline offers FREE patches, gum or lozenges, Coach support and online services. Its goal is to provide Oklahomans with a judgment-free chance at a tobacco-free life. These services are critical to public health because tobacco use is still the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.
The 2024 survey from the North American Quitline Consortium declared Oklahoma as the top state for treatment reach with the highest quit rate. As the nicotine landscape continues to evolve and as Big Tobacco continues to lie about the mental and physical health effects of nicotine, cessation support remains important. Tobacco quitlines and related programs have proven to be effective time and time again. They are still working and remain critical components in the fight against Big Tobacco.