According to research published in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report’s Nov 11 issue, close to 11.3% of middle and high school students are using tobacco products, with electronic cigarettes among the most frequently used.
FDA’s Eunice Park-Lee and other researchers analyzed data collected in the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey to estimate the use of eight tobacco products among school-going students.
Number of school-going students using tobacco products alarming
Researchers established that 11.3% of students were using tobacco products, including 4.5% and 16.5% of middle and high school students. Electronic cigarettes were the most commonly sued tobacco product, with 14.1% among high school students and 3.3% among middle school students. Around 3.7% of the students reported the use of combustible tobacco products.
There were higher rates of prevalence of tobacco use among some demographic groups, including 13.5% of non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native students, 16% of students who identified as bisexual, lesbian, or gay, 16.6% of students identifying as transgender, 18.3% of students who reported experiencing severe psychological distress, and 27.2% of students who scored poorly on academic tests.
The authors indicated that there is a need for continued surveillance efforts of tobacco product types such as novel products. Also, they note that there is a need for the ongoing implementation of population-focused tobacco control strategies in addition to the FDA’s strategies to reduce and prevent tobacco use among the youth.
Cigarette smoking among youths has been on the decline
Over the past 20 years, there has been a steady decline in youth cigarette smoking in the United States. In addition, there are various initiatives at federal, state, and local levels to address tobacco use among youths. For instance, the national age requirement of purchase for all tobacco products is 21 years old, and several states have put restrictions on the sale of scented tobacco products.
Efforts have also been undertaken to increase the cost of tobacco products, outlaw smoking in public places, and promote awareness of the risks associated with tobacco use.
