CDC Reports Youth Tobacco Use Hits 25-Year Low

Oct. 17 (UPI) -- The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reported that approximately 2.25 million U.S. middle- and high-school students use tobacco products, marking a decrease of 500,000 from the previous year. This is the lowest figure in 25 years, dropping from 2.8 million in 2023, according to the CDC's findings.

CDC Office on Smoking and Health Director Deirdre Lawrence Kittner called this decline an "extraordinary milestone for public health." She emphasized the continued commitment necessary to support efforts that help young people lead healthy, tobacco-free lives.

The data stem from the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey, which attributes the decrease in overall tobacco usage primarily to a significant reduction in e-cigarette consumption. In 2023, 2.13 million youth reported using e-cigarettes, while this year, the number has fallen to 1.63 million.

E-cigarettes remain the most frequently used tobacco product among youth, with 5.9% of smokers indicating e-cigarette usage compared to 1.4% for cigarettes and 1.2% for cigars. Furthermore, 1.2% utilize smokeless tobacco, with equal numbers using other oral nicotine products.

Other forms of tobacco include heated tobacco products at 0.8%, hookahs at 0.7%, and pipe tobacco at 0.5%. The survey indicates that cigarette smoking among youth has reached an all-time low, with only 1.4% reporting usage. The number of hookah users decreased from 290,000 in 2023 to 190,000 this year.

The CDC attributes the drop in youth tobacco use to various effective strategies at national, state, and local levels, such as tobacco price increases and educational mass media campaigns highlighting usage dangers. The Food and Drug Administration plays a vital role in regulating tobacco sales and ensuring compliance among manufacturers and retailers.