BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A CDC and FDA study shows the amount of high school students who admit to currently using tobacco products is down to 12.6%, a nearly 4 point decline from the previous year.

E-cigarettes or vapes, classified federally as tobacco products, continue to be the vastly-preferred method for young people.

"It looks like that's going down, a pretty significant decline so that's great news. Nobody thinks kids using nicotine is a good idea," said Dr. Andrew Hyland, chair of the Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Health Behavior Department.

However, Hyland said there are several concerning trends in an otherwise positive report. According to the National Youth Tobacco Survey, about half of students who ever tried e-cigarettes report currently using them.

"The most concerning thing is that kids that are vaping seem like they're hooked. More of them are vaping every day and even more so than what we saw with cigarettes, kids that would use cigarettes," Hyland said.

He said the extremely addictive nature of vape products underscores the importance of efforts to keep young people from starting in the first place.

"That's the profit motivation for companies. Having people using the product, get them young and then carry them forward," he said.

Despite state and federal rules banning flavors that appeal to kids, students in the survey reported almost exclusively using flavored e-cigarettes.

"Kids are still getting access so there's opportunities for more. Our research shows if you start with a flavored product, you're more likely to keep using," Hyland said. "You're more likely to get hooked."

While more enforcement may be one way to combat the trend, last week New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation Hyland believes could help as well. Effective January, new state provisions will severely restrict marketing, ban gift-with-purchase offers and prohibit vape brands from sponsoring sports, arts and social events.

"Cigarettes, you don't see them marketed in magazines or billboards or television. It's been a long time for that but for vaping products there are fewer restrictions and they are more scattered, the regulations that may be there."

The legislation will also void contract provisions that suppress research into health consequences.

"This legislation will put a stop to harmful marketing practices that promote e-cigarette usage among young people and ensure consumers have the facts when it comes to the potential health impacts of e-cigarette usage," state Senate sponsor Kevin Thomas said.