Drop in vaping drives tobacco product use by U.S. youth to a record low

 

According to recent CDC and FDA data, youth tobacco usage in the United States has decreased to its lowest level in 25 years, with vaping playing a substantial role in this decline. About 2.25 million middle and high school students reported using any tobacco products in 2024, down from 2.8 million in 2023, according to the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS). The most popular product is still e-cigarettes, although usage has decreased by over 500,000 in the last year, and young cigarette smoking has also decreased to its lowest level ever, at 1.4%.

The decrease is ascribed to public health initiatives such as FDA rules, educational campaigns about the negative effects of tobacco, and smoke-free laws. Disparities still exist, nevertheless, as tobacco usage is rising among some groups, such as American Indian, Alaska Native, and several racial and ethnic groupings. Health experts stress the importance of continuing education and support initiatives, particularly for regions where consumption rates are rising or staying high.

These results demonstrate the effectiveness of preventive measures while highlighting areas that require further focus to lower juvenile tobacco use across all demographic groups.