Youth Tobacco Use Drops to 25-Year Low: 2024 NYTS Data
Youth tobacco product employ in the United States has reached its lowest level in 25 years, a significant public health milestone. New data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) show a substantial decline in overall use, driven largely by a drop in e-cigarette use among middle and high school students. But, this progress isn’t uniform, with concerning increases observed among certain racial and ethnic groups, highlighting persistent disparities that demand continued attention.
A Quarter-Century Low: Overall Trends
In 2024, approximately 2.25 million middle and high school students reported current tobacco product use – defined as use on one or more days in the past 30 days – compared to 2.80 million in 2023. This represents a notable decrease, with at least half a million fewer students using tobacco products overall. The most significant decline was in e-cigarette use, falling from 2.13 million students in 2023 to 1.63 million in 2024. Hookah use also saw a substantial reduction, decreasing from 290,000 to 190,000 students over the same period. Notably, cigarette smoking has reached a historic low, with only 1.4% of students reporting current use.
These findings are based on data from the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS), a key source of information on youth tobacco use trends in the U.S. The CDC and FDA jointly analyzed the data, assessing the use of nine different tobacco product types among students in grades 6-12. Detailed findings are available in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Shifting Product Landscape
Even as e-cigarettes remain the most popular tobacco product among youth, accounting for 5.9% of current users in 2024, their dominance is being challenged. Nicotine pouches have emerged as the second most commonly used product, with 1.8% of students reporting current use. Here’s followed by cigarettes (1.4%), cigars (1.2%), smokeless tobacco (1.2%), other oral nicotine products (1.2%), heated tobacco products (0.8%), hookahs (0.7%), and pipe tobacco (0.5%). This shift highlights the evolving nature of the tobacco market and the need for ongoing surveillance of new and emerging products.
Disparities in Progress: A Closer Look
Despite the overall positive trend, the decline in tobacco use isn’t being experienced equally across all population groups. The NYTS data reveal significant disparities, with some groups seeing increases in use while others are making substantial progress. For example, current use of any tobacco product, e-cigarettes, and multiple tobacco products significantly declined among female students during 2023-2024. Similarly, Hispanic students experienced declines in the use of any tobacco product, e-cigarettes, cigars, hookahs, and multiple tobacco products.
However, the picture is more complex for other groups. Current use of any tobacco product, e-cigarettes, oral nicotine products, any combustible tobacco product, and multiple tobacco products increased among American Indian or Alaska Native students. Nicotine pouch use also increased among White students. These diverging trends underscore the importance of targeted interventions and culturally relevant prevention strategies.
Understanding the Data: Limitations and Nuances
The NYTS is a valuable tool for monitoring youth tobacco use, but it’s important to acknowledge its limitations. The survey relies on self-reported data, which can be subject to recall bias or social desirability bias. The survey captures a snapshot in time and may not fully reflect long-term trends. The CDC and FDA acknowledge these limitations and continue to refine the survey methodology to improve its accuracy and reliability. More information about the NYTS methodology can be found on the FDA website.
What Drives These Changes?
The observed decline in youth tobacco use is likely the result of a combination of factors, including ongoing public health efforts and regulatory actions. These include increased prices on tobacco products, mass media campaigns educating youth about the harms of tobacco, and comprehensive smoke-free policies. The FDA’s regulatory efforts, including premarket review of new tobacco products and enforcement actions against manufacturers and retailers, also play a crucial role. The FDA’s “The Real Cost” campaign, for example, aims to educate youth about the risks of nicotine addiction and the harmful effects of e-cigarettes.
Addressing Disparities: A Public Health Imperative
The persistent disparities in tobacco use among different racial and ethnic groups highlight the need for targeted interventions. These interventions should be culturally tailored and address the specific factors that contribute to tobacco use within these communities. This may include addressing social determinants of health, such as poverty and lack of access to healthcare, as well as promoting culturally relevant prevention messages.
Looking Ahead: Continued Vigilance and Adaptation
While the decline in youth tobacco use is encouraging, public health officials emphasize that the work is far from over. Continued vigilance and adaptation are essential to maintain progress and address emerging challenges. The FDA and CDC are committed to ongoing surveillance of youth tobacco use trends and will continue to refine their prevention and control strategies based on the latest data. Dr. Brian King, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, emphasized the need to “continue to reduce all forms of tobacco product use among youth” and to address disparities to ensure that no one is left behind.
Further research is needed to understand the factors driving the increases in tobacco use among certain populations and to develop effective interventions to address these disparities. Ongoing monitoring of the tobacco product landscape is also crucial to identify and address new and emerging threats to youth health. Resources are available to help young people quit tobacco products, including Smokefree Teen and information from the CDC on e-cigarettes.