Despite the ongoing efforts of public health officials and health activists in the United States, a sizable portion of middle and high school adolescents continue to use addictive tobacco products, most frequently vaping products.
According to recent research that two federal agencies released on Thursday, 3.08 million middle and high school kids in the United States will have used a tobacco product within the preceding 30 days.
According to Deirdre Lawrence Kittner, who oversees the Office on Smoking and Health at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Commercial tobacco product use continues to jeopardize the health of our nation’s young, and inequities in youth tobacco product use persist.”
As per US News, in a CDC news release, she stated, “We can provide our nation’s young people the best opportunity to live their healthiest lives by addressing the causes that lead to juvenile tobacco product use and helping children to quit.”
According to recent research released jointly by the CDC and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, slightly over 11% of all children in middle and high school currently vape or use cigars, cigarettes, or some other type of tobacco product.
High school students had higher rates, with 16.5% of students in that age bracket smoking tobacco products. In the intermediate schools, cigarette usage was accounted for by 4.5% of students.
For the tenth year in a row, electronic cigarettes were by far the most frequently used tobacco product among all students, according to the study. 2.55 million college students utilized vaping goods. Cigarettes and cigars came in second and third place, respectively, with 500,000 and 440,000 students using them and smokers, respectively. According to the analysis, 330,000 more children used smokeless tobacco.
Data from the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey served as the study’s data foundation. From January 18 through May 31, 2022, students in grades nine through twelve were asked to complete this survey. The results of the new study, according to the researchers, cannot be compared to those from prior years because survey techniques have just changed.
Racial differences were also observed, with American Indian or Alaska Native adolescents using tobacco products at a rate of 13.5%, which is the highest of any racial group, according to the research team. The largest percentage of e-cigarette use was reported by White students (11%), while the highest percentage of cigar/cigarette use was recorded by Black students (5.7%).
The study found that some elements—poor academic performance, worry or stress, and low family income—seemed to raise the possibility that a youngster would start smoking or vaping. The researchers also discovered that racial and ethnic minority populations tended to sell and promote vaping and smoking items more vigorously.
The government minimum age of sale for all tobacco product categories is 21 years old, which is being enforced as part of ongoing efforts to prevent underage tobacco product use. States and towns have put restrictions on the sale of flavored tobacco products, and the FDA is fighting illegal e-cigarette sales in ongoing litigation. In addition, there have been media campaigns, educational initiatives, and restrictions on where individuals can smoke.
The FDA and CDC both urged parents, schools, and medical professionals to support efforts to stop young tobacco use. According to Brian King, director of the FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, “It is evident that we have achieved commendable progress in lowering cigarette use among young people in our country.
However, there is still work to be done due to the constantly shifting tobacco product landscape. We must continue to address major inequalities that continue to exist, as well as target all types of youth tobacco product usage.” The results of the study were released in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report of the CDC on November 11.
