Youth and Tobacco Use (2024)

Youth and Tobacco Use (1)

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.7
  • In 2023, 1 of every 10 high school students (10.0%) reported that they had used electronic cigarettes in the past 30 days.7

Cigarettes

  • In 2023, about 1 of every 100 middle school students (1.1%) reported that they had smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days.7
  • In 2023, nearly 2 of every 100 high school students (1.9%) reported that they had smoked cigarettes in the past 30 days.7

Cigars

  • In 2023, nearly 1 of every 100 middle school students (1.1%) reported that they had smoked cigars in the past 30 days. 7
  • In 2023, nearly 2 of every 100 high school students (1.8%) reported that they had smoked cigars in the past 30 days. 7

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. 7
  • 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. 7

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. 7
  • In 2023, about 1 of every 100 high school students (1.1%) reported that they had smoked hookah in the past 30 days. 7

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.7
  • 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. 7
  • 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.8

Youth and Tobacco Use (2)

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.7
  • 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.7

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.7
  • 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.7

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.1, 2

Current Tobacco Product Use* Among High School Students in 20237
Tobacco ProductOverallGirlsBoys
Any tobacco product12.6%14.1%11.2%
Electronic cigarettes10.0%12.2%8.0%
Cigarettes1.9%1.5%2.3%
Cigars1.8%1.4%2.3%
Smokeless tobacco1.5%2.1%
Hookah1.1%1.4%0.9%
Nicotine Pouches1.7%2.6%
Heated tobacco products1.0%0.7%1.4%
Pipe tobacco0.6%0.5%0.7%

Notes:
*“Current use” is determined by respondents indicating that they have used a tobacco product on at least 1 day during the past 30 days.

In 2023, any tobacco product includes e-cigarettes, cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco (composite), pipe tobacco, bidis (small brown cigarettes wrapped in a leaf), hookahs, heated tobacco products, nicotine pouches, and other oral nicotine products.

Current Tobacco Product Use* Among Middle School Students in 20237
Tobacco ProductOverallGirlsBoys
Any tobacco product6.6%7.5%5.7%
Electronic cigarettes4.6%5.6%3.5%
Cigarettes1.1%1.1%
Cigars1.1%1.2%1.0%
Smokeless tobacco0.7%0.6%
Hookah1.0%0.8%
Nicotine Pouches
Heated tobacco products0.8%0.8%
Pipe tobacco0.4%
Youth and Tobacco Use (2024)

FAQs

How does tobacco affect youth? ›

Youth smokers are more likely to develop severe levels of nicotine addiction compared to adults, which leads to continued tobacco use as they grow older. Nicotine narrows blood vessels, increases blood pressure and puts added strain on the heart.

What age group uses tobacco the most? ›

Adults 18–25 and 26–44 years of age had the highest prevalence estimates for current smoking, 24.6% and 27.3%, respectively.

How does tobacco target youth? ›

Big Tobacco pushes their message by placing ads—big ones—in magazines and publications that are popular with kids. The more exposure adolescents and teens have to tobacco advertising, the more likely they are to start smoking.

What are the determinants of tobacco use in youth? ›

In this study, gender, class level, and daily pocket money were also reported as social determinants of smoking. These findings are consistent with many other studies on the association of gender37, class level38, and daily pocket money39, and adolescent smoking.

Is nicotine bad for youth? ›

Brain Risks

Youth and young adults are also uniquely at risk for long-term, long-lasting effects of exposing their developing brains to nicotine. These risks include nicotine addiction, mood disorders, and permanent lowering of impulse control.

What happens if a 14 year old smokes tobacco? ›

Is smoking bad for a 14-year-old? Yes, smoking is harmful to children and teens, including 14-year-olds. Negative health effects include hacking cough, lung damage, and increased risk of lifelong addiction to nicotine.

How does vaping target youth? ›

Results. Youths highlighted a variety of tactics e-cigarette companies use, including influencer or celebrity endorsem*nt, attractive youth flavours, bright colours and emotional appeal to advertise and promote their products directly to young people.

What are the 5 A's of tobacco dependence? ›

The widely recommended 5A's strategy for brief smoking cessation includes five tasks: Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange. Assessments of the 5A's have been limited to medical-record review and self-report. Using observational data, an instrument to assess the rate at which the 5A's are accomplished was developed.

What is tobacco information for kids? ›

Tobacco is a plant that can be dried and smoked in cigarettes, pipes, or cigars. It's the same plant that's in smokeless tobacco, known as dip, chew, snuff, spit, or chewing tobacco. Tobacco contains nicotine, which is addictive. That means a person gets so used to it that they need to have it just to feel OK.

Who does the tobacco industry target? ›

Tobacco companies have targeted kids and teens for decades spending millions of dollars in marketing techniques. Schemes such as marketing candy, celebrity endorsem*nt and misleading health claims have contributed to tobacco youth addiction.

Why do tobacco companies target people under the age of 18? ›

Creating products that appeal to youth:

Tobacco is one consumer product that kills people when used exactly as intended. Close to 90% of people who use tobacco products start before they turn 18 years old. For the tobacco industry to recruit new customers to replace the ones dying off, they need to addict our children.

Which target is about tobacco control? ›

SDG Target 3. a | Tobacco control: Strengthen the implementation of the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in all countries, as appropriate.

What is the most commonly used form of tobacco used by youth in the US? ›

E-cigarettes remained the most commonly used tobacco product among youths. Among middle school and high school students who currently use e-cigarettes, 25.2% used e-cigarettes daily, and 89.4% used flavored e-cigarettes.

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