Tobacco use among American teens has fallen to a 25-year low, according to new data analyzed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). released on Thursday.
Use of tobacco products by U.S. middle and high school students will decrease from 2.25 million in 2024, compared to 2.8 million last year. This decrease is believed to be due to a decrease in the number of students using e-cigarettes, hookahs, and cigarettes. The CDC announced that over the past year, the number of students using tobacco products has decreased by more than 500,000.
The number of e-cigarette users decreased from 2.13 million in 2023 to 1.63 million in 2024. Hookah use among this group has also declined, from 290,000 in 2023 to 190,000 this year. The CDC noted that cigarette smoking rates reached 1.4% of students in 2024, the lowest level ever surveyed.
Deirdre Lawrence Kittner of the CDC's Office of Smoking and Health said, “It's an extraordinary milestone for public health that youth tobacco product use has reached a 25-year low.'' “More than 1,000 young people use tobacco products, and some groups have no experience with tobacco products.” Our mission is far from complete as usage is decreasing. ”
Kitner added: “We must continue our public health efforts to ensure all young people live healthy, tobacco-free lives.”
The data showed that e-cigarettes remained the most commonly used tobacco product, at 5.9%. This year, nicotine pouches came in second at 1.8%. Cigarettes came in third at 1.4%, followed by cigars at 1.2% and smokeless tobacco at 1.2%. According to government data, the hookah penetration rate was 0.7%.
Last year, the use of tobacco products decreased not only among Hispanic students but also among female students.
In recent years, some retailers have stopped selling tobacco products. Walmart has announced that it will stop selling tobacco in some stores in 2022. In late August, major grocery chain Stop & Shop announced that it would stop selling tobacco products.
“We are moving in the right direction when it comes to reducing tobacco product use among our nation's youth,” said Brian King, director of the FDA's Center for Tobacco Products. “But we cannot let off the gas. Continued vigilance is required to continue reducing the use of all forms of tobacco products among young people. remains an integral part of these efforts.”
