United States: Smoking among teenagers fell sharply in 2021

In the United States, regular cigarette smoking among teens fell to a record low of 2.3 % in 2021—down from nearly 23 % in 2000—according to recent data from the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future (MTF) study, representing a colossal victory for public health efforts to combat youth smoking.

A research team of professors from the University of Michigan's Institute for Social Research conducted annual, nationally representative surveys of fourth-grade students^e in high school since 1975. The survey is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health.

Decrease in smoking and vaping among adolescents

Over the past two decades, regular cigarette smoking among U.S. adolescents (ages 14 to 18) has declined significantly, from 23.3% in 2000 to 2.3% in 2021. Daily smoking, meanwhile, has declined from 14% in 2000 to 1% in 2021.[1].

The consumption of other tobacco products (hookah, chewing tobacco/snuff, cigars/cigarillos, kreteks) has also decreased significantly in recent years among adolescents. For example, around 2% of high school students reported having used hookah tobacco in the last 12 months in 2021 compared to 17% in 2000.[2]. Similarly, cigarillo consumption has decreased, with a prevalence of 23% in 2010 and 3.4% in 2021 among high school students.[3].

According to the data, regular (past 30-day) use of vaping products among U.S. adolescents (middle and high school students combined) also fell in 2021 to 13.3% from its 2019 peak of 18.1%. Daily use increased from 6.8% in 2019 to 3% in 2021.

The effectiveness of a comprehensive tobacco control strategy

These declines underscore the importance of proven public health strategies implemented in recent years at both the federal and state levels. The U.S. Truth Initiative[4] welcomes in particular these recent data and highlights the effectiveness of the education and prevention campaigns implemented among young people by the structure during these years. For example, a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health[5] showed that Truth's actions helped prevent more than 300,000 American teens and young people from smoking.

The United States has signed but not ratified the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. It lags behind on some effective tobacco control measures, particularly on product packaging.[6] (health warnings, plain packaging), a general ban on all advertising and they have very different tax policies depending on the state. According to a recent study published in the journal Tobacco Control[7], increasing tobacco taxes is a tool neglected by the American public authorities. Of all 50 states, only 22 have occasionally increased tobacco taxes between 2011 and 2020[8].

However, although the country has not ratified the treaty, many states have been extremely actively engaged in the fight against smoking for decades with comprehensive programs, particularly developing smoke-free places and denormalizing the consumption of these products and its industry.

The country also recently strengthened certain beneficial measures for young people in April 2021.[9], the Food and Drug Administration banned menthol cigarettes and all cigar flavors nationwide. In December 2019, the country raised the federal minimum age for tobacco sales from 18 to 21. The legislation (known as Tobacco 21 or T21) makes it illegal for a retailer to sell tobacco products—cigarettes, cigars, and e-cigarettes—to anyone under the age of 21.[10].

Keywords: United States, smoking, vaping, prevalence, adolescents, tobacco control

©Tobacco Free Generation

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[1] Cigarettes: Trends in Lifetime Prevalence of Use in Grades 8, 10, and 12, The Monitoring the Future study, the University of Michigan, accessed January 11, 2021[2] Tobacco using a Hookah: Trends in 12 Month Prevalence of Use in 8th, 10th, and 12th Grade, The Monitoring the Future study, the University of Michigan, accessed January 11, 2021[3] Small cigars: Trends in 12 Month Prevalence of Use in 12th Grade, The Monitoring the Future study, the University of Michigan, accessed January 11, 2021[4] Truth Initiative, Smoking and vaping among young people declines in 2021, January 10, 2022, accessed January 11, 2022[5] Vallone D, Greenberg M, Xiao H, Bennett M, Cantrell J, Rath J, Hair E. The Effect of Branding to Promote Healthy Behavior: Reducing Tobacco Use among Youth and Young Adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2017; 14(12):1517. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph14121517[6] Generation without tobacco, US: New health warnings could help save half a million lives, published October 4, 2021, accessed January 11, 2021[7] Nargis N Healthy People Countdown 2030: reaching 5% cigarette smoking prevalence among US adults through state cigarette excise tax increases, Tobacco Control Published Online First: 05 November 2021. doi: 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056755[8] Generation without tobacco, Without tax hikes, US likely to miss public health target, published on November 16, 2021, consulted on January 11, 2021[9] Generation without tobacco, US Bans Menthol Cigarettes, April 29, 2021, accessed January 11, 2021[10] Tobacco-free generation, United States: Tobacco 21 laws are effective and convince other countries, January 13, 2021, accessed January 11, 2022National Committee Against Smoking |