Youth Tobacco Use Unchanged Since 2011: CDC Report

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicate a complex trend in youth tobacco use, characterized by a historic decline in traditional cigarette smoking alongside the persistence of electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches.

In 2024, current cigarette smoking among high school students fell to 1.7% and among middle school students to 1.1%, marking the lowest prevalence ever recorded for these groups.

Despite the drop in combustible cigarette use, other tobacco products remain prevalent. Electronic cigarettes have been the most commonly used tobacco product among youth since 2014.

Historical Trends in Youth Tobacco Use

The current landscape follows a period of stagnation in overall youth tobacco use. According to a report published by the CDC and the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products on April 14, 2016, overall tobacco use among middle and high school students had not changed since 2011.

Data from the 2015 National Youth Tobacco Survey revealed that 4.7 million middle and high school students were current users of a tobacco product, defined as use at least once in the past 30 days. More than 2.3 million of those students used two or more tobacco products.

Between 2011 and 2015, the prevalence of e-cigarette use rose sharply. Among high school students, use increased from 1.5% to 16.0%, while middle school use rose from 0.6% to 5.3%.

In 2015, cigarettes were the second-most-used tobacco product, with 9.3% of high school students and 2.3% of middle school students reporting current use.

2024 Usage Statistics and Product Trends

More recent data from 2024 shows a shift in the types of products being used by students. While traditional smoking has declined, e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches continue to be utilized by a segment of the youth population.

In 2024, 7.8% of high school students (1 in 13) and 3.5% of middle school students (1 in 29) reported using electronic cigarettes in the past 30 days.

Nicotine pouches also saw reported use in 2024, with 2.4% of high school students (1 in 42) and 1.0% of middle school students (1 in 100) using them within the same 30-day window.

The appeal of these products is heavily linked to flavorings. Among students who used these products in the past 30 days during 2024, the following percentages reported using flavored versions:

• High school students using e-cigarettes: 88.2%
• Middle school students using e-cigarettes: 85.7%
• High school students using nicotine pouches: 86.1%
• Middle school students using nicotine pouches: 85.4%

Public Health Implications

Public health officials emphasize that tobacco products in any form are unsafe, particularly for children, teens, and young adults. These products contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can cause harm to the developing brain.

Preventing the initiation of tobacco use during adolescence is considered critical for reducing lifelong tobacco dependency. According to the CDC, nearly 9 out of 10 adults who smoke cigarettes daily first tried smoking by the age of 18.

In 2024, approximately two in five students who had ever used a tobacco product reported that they were current users.

Addressing this issue involves a combination of education and regulation. Efforts include restricting the marketing and sale of products that appeal to youth, such as those with flavored additives, and increasing access to cessation resources for those already addicted to nicotine.