Teen Tobacco Use Drops to 25-Year Low, CDC Reports

WASHINGTON - Teen smoking and tobacco use have reached an all-time low in the U.S., with the percentage of middle and high school students using tobacco products dropping to 8%, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Thursday.

This marks a 20% decrease from last year’s figures, where 10% of students reported using at least one tobacco product.

The CDC attributes the sharp decline to a reduction in vaping, which saw usage among high school students fall to 7.8% from 10%. E-cigarettes remain the most commonly used tobacco product among youth, followed by nicotine pouches. In total, the number of students using any tobacco product dropped from 2.8 million in 2023 to 2.25 million in 2024, the lowest level recorded since the CDC began its annual survey in 1999.

The CDC report showed additional declines in other tobacco product usage, such as hookah use, which decreased from 1.1% to 0.7%. Cigarette smoking among high school students also fell, with only 1.7% reporting cigarette use, compared to nearly 30% of students smoking 25 years ago.

Factors contributing to this decline include increased enforcement against retailers selling to minors, public health campaigns, and price hikes. Despite these successes, the CDC noted that some disparities remain. Tobacco use fell among girls and Hispanic students but increased among American Indian and Alaska Native students. Additionally, nicotine pouch use rose among white students.

The data comes from the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey, which included nearly 30,000 students across 283 schools.

Key Statistics:

• Tobacco use among youth dropped from 10% to 8%.
• E-cigarette use among high school students fell from 10% to 7.8%.
• Cigarette smoking among high school students fell to 1.7%.
• Hookah use dropped from 1.1% to 0.7%.