Youth and Tobacco Use
Summary
Youth use of tobacco products in any form is unsafe. Preventing tobacco product use among youth is critical to reducing tobacco use among the nation’s youth.
- Tobacco product use is started and established primarily during adolescence.
- Nearly 9 out of 10 adults who smoke cigarettes daily first try smoking by age 18.
- Flavorings in tobacco products can make them more appealing to youth.
- In 2021, 80.2% of high school students and 74.6% of middle school students who used tobacco products in the past 30 days reported using a flavored tobacco product during that time.
- In 2023, 90.3% of high school students and 87.1% of middle school students who used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days reported using a flavored e-cigarette during that time.