- There were 1.5 million more current youth e-cigarette users in 2018 than 2017.
- 4.9 million youth were current tobacco product users in 2018.
- Use of any tobacco product grew by 38.3% among high school students (2017-2018).
Overview:
Tobacco product use among US youth is increasing. More than 1 in 4 high school students and about 1 in 14 middle school students in 2018 had used a tobacco product in the past 30 days. This was a considerable increase from 2017, which was driven by an increase in e-cigarette use. E-cigarette use increased from 11.7% to 20.8% among high school students and from 3.3% to 4.9% among middle school students from 2017 to 2018. No change was found in the use of other tobacco products, including cigarettes, during this time.
Among youth:
- E-cigarettes are still the most commonly used tobacco product, ahead of cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, hookah, and pipes.
- E-cigarettes are the most commonly used product in combination with other tobacco products.
- E-cigarette use is highest for boys, whites, and high school students.
Tobacco product use among high school students—2018
Source: Tobacco Product Use Among Middle and High School Students — United States, 2011-2018.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), February 2019.
Problem:
Nearly all tobacco product use begins in adolescence.
Any tobacco product use among youth is unsafe, including e-cigarettes.
- Cigarette smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals, including about 70 that cause cancer.
- Nearly all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, contain nicotine.
- Youth nicotine use can lead to addiction and can harm the developing brain, impacting learning, memory, and attention.
The Way Forward:
Parents and Educators Can:
- Set a positive example by not using tobacco products themselves.
- Learn about different types and risks of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
Healthcare Providers Can:
- Ask specifically about e-cigarettes when screening for tobacco product use.
- Warn youth about the risks of all tobacco product use, including e-cigarettes.
Schools Can:
- Adopt and enforce tobacco-free campus policies that include e-cigarettes.
- Reject tobacco industry-sponsored prevention programs, which are proven not to work.
States and Communities Can:
- Prohibit smoking and e-cigarette use inside workplaces and public places.
- Increase the minimum age of sale of tobacco products to 21 years.
- Prohibit the sale of flavored tobacco products.
Sources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/youth-tobacco-use/index.html
Office of the Associate Director for Communication
Tobacco Product Use Among Middle and High School Students — United States, 2011-2018.
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), February 2019.