Youth use of tobacco products in any form is dangerous and poses significant health risks, not just to the individual but to those around them as well. Preventing tobacco use among young people is essential to reducing overall rates of tobacco addiction, as the habit is often established during adolescence. In fact, nearly 9 out of 10 adults who smoke daily first tried cigarettes by age 18. Flavorings in tobacco products, particularly in e-cigarettes, make them more appealing to teens. In 2021, over 80% of high school students and nearly 75% of middle school students who used tobacco reported using flavored products. This trend continued in 2023, with over 90% of high schoolers and 87% of middle schoolers using flavored e-cigarettes. These numbers highlight the need for stricter prevention efforts to protect youth from the serious, long-term health consequences of tobacco use.
Here’s a breakdown of the tobacco products currently used by U.S. high school students, with electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) leading the way.
Electronic cigarettes (E-cigarettes)
- E-cigarettes have been the most commonly used tobacco product among youth since 2014.
- In 2023, about 1 out of every 22 middle school students (4.6%) reported that they had used electronic cigarettes in the past 30 days.
- In 2023, 1 of every 10 high school students (10.0%) reported that they had used electronic cigarettes in the past 30 days.
Cigarettes
- In 2023, about 1 of every 100 middle school students (1.1%) reported that they had smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days.
- In 2023, nearly 2 of every 100 high school students (1.9%) reported that they had smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days.
Cigars
- In 2023, nearly 1 of every 100 middle school students (1.1%) reported that they had smoked cigars in the past 30 days.
- In 2023, nearly 2 of every 100 high school students (1.8%) reported that they had smoked cigars in the past 30 days.
Smokeless tobacco
- In 2023, nearly 1 of every 100 middle school students (0.7%) reported that they had had used smokeless tobacco in the past 30 days.
- In 2023, nearly 2 of every 100 high school students (1.5%) reported that they had had used smokeless tobacco in the past 30 days.
Hookah
- In 2023, less than 1 of every 100 middle school students (1.0%) reported that they had smoked hookah in the past 30 days.
- In 2023, about 1 of every 100 high school students (1.1%) reported that they had smoked hookah in the past 30 days.
Heated tobacco products
- In 2023, less than 1 of every 100 middle school students (0.8%) and about 1 of every 100 high school students (1.0%) reported using heated tobacco products in the past 30 days.
- Heated tobacco products, also known as “heat-not-burn” products, deliver nicotine to the user by heating tobacco leaves rather than a nicotine-containing liquid like e-cigarettes.
Nicotine pouches
- In 2023, about 1 of every 100 high school students (1.7%) reported using nicotine pouches in the past 30 days.
- Nicotine pouches are microfiber pouches with flavored nicotine powder that users dissolve in the mouth without spitting. Sales of nicotine pouches have increased rapidly in the U.S.
All tobacco product use
- In 2023, more than 6 of every 100 middle school students (6.6%) and about 1 of every 8 high school students (12.6%) reported current use of a tobacco product.
- In 2023, nearly 15 of every 100 middle school students (14.7%) and nearly 28 of every 100 high school students (27.9%) said they had ever tried a tobacco product.
Many young people use multiple tobacco products.
- In 2023, more than 2 of every 100 middle school students (2.5%) and about 1 of every 30 high school students (3.9%) reported current use of multiple tobacco products in the past 30 days.
- In 2023, about 6 of every 100 middle school students (6.1%) and more than 12 of every 100 high school students (12.7%) reported they had ever tried multiple tobacco products.
Fact
“Youth who use multiple tobacco products are at higher risk for developing nicotine dependence and might be more likely to continue using tobacco into adulthood.” ~CDC
It’s crucial to continue efforts to prevent and reduce all forms of tobacco use among youth, given the serious health dangers posed by smoking and vaping. Encouraging factors such as being part of a religious group, having a strong sense of racial or ethnic pride, and achieving higher academic success have been linked to lower smoking rates among young people. By fostering these positive influences and raising awareness about the risks of tobacco, we can help protect the next generation from the harmful and often lifelong effects of tobacco addiction.
Reference: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/php/data-statistics/youth-data-tobacco/index.html
