Teen tobacco use has fallen to a 25-year low

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced Thursday that tobacco use among middle and high school students has hit a 25-year low.

According to the National Youth Tobacco Survey data from the CDC and FDA, 2.25 million middle and high school students reported using a tobacco product within the last 30 days, down from 2.8 million in 2023. The decrease is largely due to fewer students using e-cigarettes, which dropped from 2.13 million in 2023 to 1.63 million in 2024.

“We’re moving in the right direction in reducing youth tobacco product use,” said Brian King, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products. “But we must remain vigilant. Continued efforts are crucial to bring down all forms of youth tobacco use, particularly in addressing disparities to ensure no one is left behind.”

The largest declines were reported among female and Hispanic students. Evidence-based strategies, such as price hikes, media campaigns, and smoke-free policies, likely contributed to the decrease, according to the agencies.

E-cigarettes remain the most-used product among students who reported tobacco use, at 5.9%, followed by nicotine pouches at 1.8%, and cigarettes at 1.4%. The use of nicotine pouches grew slightly from 1.2% in 2023 to 1.8% in 2024, though this increase wasn’t statistically significant.

“Any youth tobacco use, including e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, is unsafe,” said Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, director of the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health. “We must stay committed to public health efforts to ensure all youth can live tobacco-free lives.”

Zyn was the most popular nicotine pouch brand, with 68.7% of students who use nicotine pouches choosing it, compared to 14.2% who used the next most-popular brand, On. Earlier this year, Zyn's popularity surged on social media, leading to a nationwide shortage. In response, Philip Morris International, which owns Zyn, announced in July a $600 million investment in a new production facility in Colorado to meet demand.

The survey sampled 29,861 students from 283 schools between Jan. 22 and May 22.