Early findings of the PATH study from the FDA have revealed growing trends in the e-cigarette market. 

One of the most important areas of research in the tobacco industry is electronic cigarette use, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released some of the early findings from its Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study.

According to a report from the National Association of Tobacco Outlets (NATO), the long-term PATH study, sponsored by the FDA and the National Institute of Health, has revealed the following data in relation to e-cigarette use among adults:

1. 5% of adults in the study used an e-cigarette in the past month.
2. 40% of adults that use e-cigarettes used an e-cigarette less than three times in the past 30 days.
3. 8% of current e-cigarette users were also current tobacco smokers.
4. 83% of 18 to 24 year olds that use e-cigarettes have a preference for flavored e-cigarettes.
5. 63% of adults 25 years old and older that use e-cigarettes have a preference for flavored e-cigarettes.

These are the early findings of the PATH study, which began in 2013 and will continue through 2022. The study seeks to gather data to gain a better understanding of tobacco use behaviors.

The data is being collected from 46,000 U.S. residents ages 12 and older that use and do not use tobacco products. E-cigarettes is one of many areas that are being investigated in the study, and the FDA may use the final findings of the PATH study to propose future tobacco regulations.