Teen smoking and other tobacco use in the US have dropped to the lowest level in 25 years, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The government announced on Thursday that there has been a significant decrease in the use of tobacco products among middle and high school students, with a 20% drop in the number of students using at least one tobacco product, including cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and hookahs. The number decreased from 2.8 million last year to 2.25 million this year, marking the lowest since the CDC’s key survey began in 1999.
Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, director of CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, expressed that achieving a 25-year low for youth tobacco product use is a remarkable milestone for public health. However, she also pointed out that their mission is far from complete. The overall decline in tobacco use, from 10% to about 8% of students, can mainly be attributed to a previously reported drop in vaping.
The rate of e-cigarette use among youths fell to under 6% this year, down from 7.7% last year, marking the lowest point in the last decade. E-cigarettes remain the most commonly used tobacco products among teens, followed by nicotine pouches. The use of other tobacco products has also been on the decline.
Twenty-five years ago, almost 30% of high school students smoked, but this year, that number dropped significantly to just 1.7%. The rate remained relatively stable from the previous year, but it is the lowest recorded since the survey began 25 years ago. The use of hookahs also saw a decrease from 1.1% to 0.7%.
The CDC survey, conducted annually and involving nearly 30,000 middle and high school students at 283 schools, had a response rate of about 33% this year. Factors contributing to the declines include price increases, public health education campaigns, age restrictions, and stricter enforcement against retailers and manufacturers selling tobacco products to minors.
While there was a decrease in the use of any tobacco product among high school students to 10% from nearly 13%, the e-cigarette use dropped below 8% from 10%. However, there was no reported change for middle school students. Current tobacco use decreased among girls and Hispanic students but increased among American Indian or Alaska Native students, with a rise in the use of nicotine pouches among white students.
These statistics highlight a positive trend towards reducing tobacco use among young people, which is crucial for public health initiatives in the country. The efforts to continue this decline in tobacco use among youths will be pivotal to ensure a healthier future generation in the US.