Discover the latest trends in youth tobacco usage from the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey, including significant shifts in e-cigarette and combustible tobacco product use among middle and high school students.
Comprehensive Overview of Youth Tobacco Consumption in 2023
Declining Trends in High School Tobacco Use
The 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey, a joint effort by the FDA and CDC, has highlighted a notable decline in tobacco product use among U.S. high school students. Between 2022 and 2023, there was a decrease from 16.5% to 12.6% in overall tobacco usage. A reduction largely influenced this decline in e-cigarette usage, which fell from 14.1% to 10.0%, signifying 580,000 fewer high school e-cigarette users.
In addition to e-cigarettes, there was a downturn in the use of cigars and combustible tobacco products, recording historic lows. While these trends are encouraging, it’s crucial to address the contrasting increase in tobacco product use among middle school students, which rose from 4.5% to 6.6%.
Middle School Tobacco Use: A Rising Concern
Contrary to the high school data, the survey indicated a concerning uptick in tobacco product usage among middle school students. The prevalence of using multiple tobacco products also increased from 1.5% to 2.5%. Despite these overall increases, the usage rates for individual tobacco product types, including e-cigarettes, did not change significantly.
Detailed Tobacco Product Usage Among Students
Current Tobacco Product Usage
- High School Students: 12.6% (1.97 million) currently use tobacco products.
- Middle School Students: 6.6% (800,000) reported current tobacco usage.
- Combustible Tobacco Products: 3.4% (920,000) of students currently use these products.
- Multiple Tobacco Product Usage: 3.4% (940,000) of students use more than one tobacco product.
Predominant Tobacco Products and Devices
- E-cigarettes: The most used device at 7.7%.
- Cigars and Cigarettes: Both at 1.6%.
- Nicotine Pouches: Used by 1.5% of students.
- Alternative Nicotine Products: Including smokeless tobacco and oral nicotine products, each at 1.2%.
- Hookahs and Heated Tobacco Products: At 1.1% and 1.0%, respectively.
E-Cigarette Usage Patterns Among Youth
Current E-Cigarette Consumption
- Overall: 7.7% of students (2.13 million) currently use e-cigarettes.
- High School Users: 10.0% (1.56 million).
- Middle School Users: 4.6% (550,000).
Usage Frequency and Preferences
- Daily Use: 25.2% of current youth e-cigarette users.
- Regular Use: 34.7% use e-cigarettes at least 20 days a month.
- Flavored E-Cigarettes: 89.4% prefer flavors, with fruit and candy flavors being the most popular.
- Type of E-Cigarette Devices: Disposable vapes are the most used (60.7%), followed by prefilled or refillable pods (16.1%).
Popular E-Cigarette Brands Among Youth
- Leading Brands: Elf Bar (56.7%), Esco Bars (21.6%), Vuse (20.7%), JUUL (16.5%), and Mr. Fog (13.6%).
Methodology Behind the 2023 NYTS
The 2023 NYTS employed a cross-sectional, school-based questionnaire approach, targeting a representative sample of U.S. middle and high school students. From March 9 to June 16, 2023, the survey achieved a 30.5% response rate from 22,069 students. This methodology provided comprehensive data on the prevalence and patterns of tobacco product use among youth.
The Role of Public Education Campaigns in Tobacco Prevention
The Impact of “The Real Cost” Campaign
The FDA’s “The Real Cost” campaign, aimed at educating teens about the health risks of tobacco, has shown significant reach. In 2021, 75.2% of middle and high school students reported exposure to anti-tobacco ads, with 60.9% specifically recognizing the “The Real Cost” campaign.
Exposure to Tobacco Product Advertising
Despite these efforts, youth are frequently exposed to tobacco product advertising through various mediums. Reports indicate that 75.7% of youth encounter tobacco marketing, and 73.5% of social media users have seen e-cigarette-related content.
The Strategic Goals of the NYTS
The NYTS aims to inform comprehensive tobacco prevention and control programs through national data on youth tobacco use behaviors. This survey, a collaboration between the FDA and CDC, is critical in shaping effective public health strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the 2023 NYTS reveal about youth tobacco use?
The 2023 NYTS shows a decrease in tobacco use among high school students, driven mainly by a reduction in e-cigarette use but an increase in tobacco use among middle school students.
What are the most commonly used tobacco products among youth?
E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among youth, followed by cigars, cigarettes, and nicotine pouches.
What is the methodology of the NYTS?
The NYTS uses a cross-sectional, school-based questionnaire to gather data from a nationally representative sample of middle and high school students.
What is the significance of public education campaigns in tobacco prevention?
Public education campaigns like “The Real Cost” play a vital role in informing youth about the dangers of tobacco use, though exposure to tobacco product advertising remains a challenge.
