WASHINGTON, D.C. — The latest findings from the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) reveal a significant milestone in public health: youth tobacco use in the United States has plummeted to its lowest level in 25 years. This decline, while encouraging, underscores the ongoing necessity for vigilant efforts in tobacco prevention and control, particularly among specific demographic groups that continue to face higher usage rates.
In 2024, 2.25 million middle and high school students reported using tobacco products within the past 30 days, a noteworthy reduction from 2.80 million in 2023. This decrease is largely attributed to a substantial drop in e-cigarette usage, with 1.63 million students reporting use in 2024 compared to 2.13 million the previous year. Additionally, hookah use saw a significant decline, with only 190,000 students currently using, down from 290,000 in 2023. Cigarette smoking among students has reached an unprecedented low, with only 1.4% of students reporting current use.
Dr. Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, director of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, hailed the progress as an “extraordinary milestone for public health,” but cautioned that the mission is far from over. Despite the overall decline, more than 2 million youth continue to use tobacco products, highlighting the need for sustained public health efforts to ensure all youth can lead tobacco-free lives.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have analyzed the NYTS data, which include insights into the use of nine tobacco products among students in grades 6 through 12. While the decline in e-cigarette use is a positive development, e-cigarettes remain the most commonly used tobacco product among youth, accounting for 5.9% of users. Nicotine pouches have emerged as the second most prevalent product at 1.8%, followed by cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, other oral nicotine products, heated tobacco products, hookahs, and pipe tobacco.
The survey also highlights disparities in tobacco product use among different population groups. Notably, significant declines in the use of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and multiple tobacco products, were recorded among female and Hispanic students. Conversely, American Indian or Alaska Native students saw increased usage rates for several tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and oral nicotine products. Additionally, an uptick in nicotine pouch use was observed among White students.
Dr. Brian King, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, emphasized the necessity for ongoing efforts to reduce tobacco use among youth, stressing the importance of addressing disparities to ensure comprehensive progress.
The decline in tobacco use is likely the result of a combination of evidence-based strategies implemented at various levels. These strategies include price increases, educational mass media campaigns, and comprehensive smoke-free policies that encompass e-cigarettes. The FDA continues to regulate the tobacco marketplace through rigorous premarket review processes and enforcement measures targeting manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers.
The 2024 NYTS data serve as a testament to the progress made in reducing youth tobacco use, yet they also highlight the critical need for continued, targeted efforts to address the persistent challenges and disparities that remain.
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