This is a good decline.
Recent federal data indicates a significant decline in vaping among American teenagers, with around 550,000 school students, primarily high schoolers, quitting e-cigarettes in 2024. The National Youth Tobacco Survey reports that vaping rates among high school students dropped from 10% in 2023 to 7.8%, representing the lowest level recorded since the survey began. Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, director of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, highlighted the milestone of reaching a 25-year low in youth tobacco product usage but cautioned that more than 2 million young people are still using tobacco, signaling that efforts must continue.
The survey also found that traditional cigarette use is at an all-time low, with only 1.4% of middle and high school students reported as smokers. This decline in tobacco usage is seen as a positive trend, demonstrating the effectiveness of ongoing educational initiatives aimed at teaching youths about the dangers associated with vaping and smoking. Researchers attribute the decrease in tobacco use to efforts at various levels—national, state, and local—that focus on informing young people about the risks of these products.
Despite the overall positive trends, the emergence of nicotine pouches—new tobacco products placed between the gum and cheek—poses a potential challenge. These pouches have gained traction among teens, ranking as the second most popular tobacco product, with 2.4% of high school students using them regularly. Since their introduction, sales of nicotine pouches have surged, and in 2024, nearly 890,000 students reported having used them.
The CDC findings, published on October 17 in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, reveal that while progress has been made in reducing overall tobacco usage among youths, the tobacco industry continues to present challenges. The availability of flavored vape products and marketing strategies aimed at younger audiences may contribute to the risk of renewed interest in vaping. Concerns about misleading perceptions of harm associated with these products also persist.
Brian King, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, noted the importance of remaining vigilant in the fight against youth tobacco use. Although progress has been made, he emphasized the need for continued efforts to decrease tobacco product usage among young people and address disparities to ensure that no demographic is overlooked in these public health initiatives.
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