Tobacco product use among middle and high school students has decreased to a 25-year low, as announced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday.
Data on youth tobacco product use was collected by the CDC and FDA through the National Youth Tobacco Survey. The survey revealed that 2.25 million middle and high school students reported using any tobacco product in the past 30 days, a decrease from 2.8 million in 2023.
The decline was attributed to a drop in students using electronic cigarettes, which decreased to 1.63 million in 2024 from 2.13 million in 2023.
Brian King, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, stated in a press release on Thursday, “We’re moving in the right direction in reducing tobacco product use among our nation’s youth. However, we must remain vigilant. Continued efforts are necessary to further reduce all forms of tobacco product use among youth. Addressing disparities is crucial to ensure that no one is left behind.”
Female students showed the most significant decrease in tobacco product use, and Hispanic students also reported a decline in any tobacco product use. The agencies suggested that evidence-based strategies such as price increases, media campaigns, and smoke-free policies likely contributed to the decrease in tobacco product use.
E-cigarettes remained the most commonly used tobacco product among students who reported tobacco use, at 5.9%, followed by nicotine pouches at 1.8% and cigarettes at 1.4%.
Although nicotine pouch use increased among students, the CDC noted that the growth was not significant, rising from 1.2% in 2023 to 1.8% in 2024.
Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, director of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, emphasized in a press release in September, “Youth use of tobacco products in any form — including e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches — is unsafe. It is crucial that we remain dedicated to public health efforts to ensure all youth can lead healthy, tobacco-free lives.”
Zyn emerged as the most popular nicotine pouch brand, with a usage rate of 68.7%, surpassing the next popular brand, On, at 14.2%.
Earlier this year, Zyn, the oral nicotine pouch brand owned by Philip Morris International, gained significant popularity on social media, resulting in a nationwide shortage. In response to the increased demand, Philip Morris announced plans in July to invest $600 million in a new Zyn production facility in Colorado.
The survey was conducted among 29,861 students from 283 schools between January 22 and May 22.
