New York: Anti-tobacco program successful with reduction in youth smoking

In 2020, New York State reached two major milestones in tobacco control: consumption among high school students decreased across all categories of tobacco and nicotine products, and youth smoking rates reached a historic low: fewer than 3% of high school students smoke manufactured cigarettes.

Following an increase in overall youth tobacco and nicotine use between 2014 and 2018, new data from the NY-Youth Tobacco Survey indicate that regular use among high school students declined across all product categories, from 30.6 % to 25.6 % between 2018 and 2020. Regular e-cigarette use also declined among high school students, but remains at a high level, from 27.5% in 2018 to 22.5% in 2020. In 2020, 2.4% of high school students regularly used manufactured cigarettes, compared to 27.1 % in 2000, a reduction of 91%.[1].

Targeted measures for adolescents and young adults

In 2019, New York State raised the minimum age requirement for a customer to sell a tobacco or vaping product from 18 to 21. This measure, which is well-enforced, makes it harder for youth to access tobacco products.[2]. As a corollary, this makes it more difficult to start smoking at a time when the brains of adolescents and young adults may be particularly vulnerable to the effects of nicotine. This legislation is also likely to counter the circumvention practices that sometimes exist with young adults who buy tobacco products for minors.

New York State also ended the sale of tobacco in pharmacies and eliminated the use of coupons and other price promotions that made vaping and tobacco products more affordable for youth. In 2020, New York finally banned the online sale of vaping products and the sale of flavored liquids.[3], a ban already in force for manufactured cigarettes since 2003.

To help young people quit vaping, in 2020 the Department of Health partnered with Truth Initiative for its digital prevention program, “This is Quitting”[4]. This free, anonymous text message program was created with input from teens, college students, and young adults who have tried or successfully quit vaping. Tailored to specific age groups (ages 13-17 and 18-24), it aims to provide age-appropriate quit recommendations. Young people in New York State can text “DropTheVape” to 88709 to access the program. The program also directs users to a hotline, the New York State Quitline, which provides free, confidential quit coaching for people who vape or smoke, and referrals to professionals for further treatment.

Keywords: New York, United States, Youth, Anti-tobacco control, vaping,

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[1] Press release, New York State Department of Health Announces Lowest Youth Cigarette Smoking Rate on Record, Department of Health, September 13, 2021, accessed September 17, 2021

[2] Generation Without Tobacco, United States: Tobacco 21 laws are effective and convince other countries, Department of Health, January 13, 2021, accessed September 17, 2021

[3] Attorney General James Orders Companies to Stop Online Sale of E-Cigarettes to Minors and New Yorkers, NY Attorney General, July 20, 2020, accessed September 17, 2021

[4] Generation Without Tobacco, United States: a digital vaping prevention program for young people, January 28, 2021, accessed September 17, 2021