EVOLUTION OF ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE CONSUMPTION AMONG BRAZILIAN ADOLESCENTS AND THE NEED FOR SCHOOL-BASED EDUCATIONAL STRATEGIES

Abstract

The use of electronic smoking devices (ESDs), popularly known as electronic cigarettes or vapes, has increased significantly among adolescents, constituting an important public health problem. This study aimed to analyze the evolution of electronic cigarette experimentation among Brazilian adolescents aged 13 to 17 years and to discuss the need for educational strategies focused on preventing this practice. This is a descriptive, quantitative, exploratory survey study, carried out through the analysis of data from the National School Health Survey (PeNSE), provided by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE), comparing data from 2019 and 2024. The results showed an increase in electronic cigarette experimentation from 16.8% to 29.6% during the analyzed period, with growth observed in all regions of the country. Higher prevalence was also identified among female adolescents and public school students in 2024. It is concluded that the use of electronic cigarettes shows significant expansion among Brazilian adolescents, reinforcing the need to implement permanent health education actions in the school environment, aiming to raise young people’s awareness of the risks associated with the use of these devices and to contribute to the prevention of early consumption.