Virginia ER visits suggest a shift from cigarettes to vapes

Since 2020, emergency department visits in Virginia by patients who said they vape jumped significantly, while visits by those who use traditional tobacco declined, according to stats from Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association .

Why it matters: The data suggests a shift away from traditional tobacco, like cigarettes and chewing tobacco, in favor of vapes and e-cigarettes, VHHA tells Axios.

The big picture: The statewide shift mirrors broader trends. Traditional tobacco use has been steadily declining for decades, according to the CDC , as e-cig and vape use soars, particularly among children, per the World Health Organization .

Zoom in: Last year, 49,356 patients visited Virginia ERs and reported vape use, a 109% increase over the 23,630 visits in 2020.

• Meanwhile, ER visits in the state where traditional tobacco use was disclosed dropped 25% over the three years, going from 538,802 in 2020 to 401,832 last year.

Worth noting: The patients' ages weren't available as part of VHHA's report, but youth tobacco use is on the rise, according to FDA's annual youth tobacco survey .

• Last year, 10% of K-12 students said they use tobacco; use among high school students dropped year-over-year, but rose for middle schoolers.

What we're watching: The use of Zyn , a 10-year-old smokeless nicotine pouch that's suddenly TikTok famous thanks to "Zynfluencers" touting its bennies.