Youth tobacco use is at a 25-year low. Here’s what drove the decline.
A new study reveals that youth tobacco usage is now at its lowest level in the past 25 years, marking a significant achievement in public health.
According to a survey conducted among U.S. high school and middle school students, the decrease in tobacco use is mainly due to fewer young people using e-cigarettes, which remain the top choice for kids, as indicated by a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study published in October.
“Achieving a 25-year low in youth tobacco product usage is an extraordinary public health milestone. However, with over 2 million youths still using tobacco products and some demographic groups not showing a decrease, we still have work to do,” stated Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, director of CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health.
Kittner emphasized, “We must stay dedicated to our public health initiatives to guarantee that all young people can lead healthy, tobacco-free lives.”
Here’s a look at how tobacco use among middle and high school students has evolved over the past decade:
Teen tobacco use is decreasing
In 2024, around 8% of middle and high school students—approximately 2.25 million—reported using any tobacco product within the previous 30 days, down from about 2.8 million in 2023.
The figures are even higher among high schoolers, with 10% admitting to regular tobacco use, while 5% of middle schoolers reported smoking.
If you’re unable to view our graphics, click here.
This recent decline is significant: when the National Youth Tobacco Survey first conducted in 1999, nearly one-third of high school students and 10% of middle school students used tobacco products, according to Kristy Marynak, a senior science advisor at the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, during an interview with YSL News. Back then, youth primarily smoked cigarettes or chewed tobacco, as vaping was not yet available.
What tobacco products are youth using?
While youth e-cigarette use has dropped to its lowest point in ten years, e-cigarettes continue to be the most favored tobacco product among young users (5.9%) for the 11th consecutive year.
In 2024, nicotine pouches emerged as the second most popular tobacco product among youth.
For the past 11 years, vaping has been the preferred method for consuming tobacco, with 6% of youth reporting they vaped in 2024.
The most common tobacco product among underage users was still e-cigs, with 1.63 million students indicating they used vapes in 2024, a notable drop from 2.1 million reported in 2023. Among those teens who vape, 88% said they preferred flavored varieties.
Disposable e-cigarettes are the most frequently used devices among young users.
The leading brands for disposable and cartridge products are:
â—¾ Elf Bars (36.1% users)
â—¾ Esco Bars (19.9%)
â—¾ Vuse (13.7%)
â—¾ JUUL (12.6%)
The findings show differences among demographics
Nicotine exposure poses risks to developing brains
The study pointed out that the use of multiple tobacco products among middle and high school students is particularly alarming due to its link to nicotine addiction, which raises the chances of long-term tobacco usage in adulthood.
The research also emphasized the need for stricter regulations on sales to minors, rising prices, prohibition of flavored products, and restrictions on indoor tobacco use.
This article was updated to include new information.
