More than 2.5 million students reported current use of tobacco in 2021

More than 2.5 million middle and high school students in the United States reported current use of a tobacco product in 2021, according to results from the National Youth Tobacco Survey that were published Thursday in MMWR.

Karen Hacker, MD, MPH, director of the CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, said the report provided “critical insights” on tackling the issue of tobacco among youth.

“Youth use of tobacco products is unsafe in any form — combustible, smokeless, or electronic,” Hacker said in a press release. “This report provides critical insights needed to combat this serious public health concern and help protect our nation’s youth from the harmful effects of tobacco.”

According to data from the survey, around 11.3% of surveyed high school students and 2.8% of surveyed middle school students reported using e-cigarettes, with 85% of positive respondents reporting use of flavored versions.

According to the survey, students who used e-cigarettes cited feelings of anxiety, stress or depression and the “high or buzz” associated with nicotine use as reasons for their use. Importantly, nicotine withdrawal is commonly accompanied by symptoms of anxiety and depression, and temporary relief of these symptoms through use of a nicotine-containing product might perpetuate continued nicotine use.

Still, among the approximately 2.55 million students who reported using any tobacco product within the past 30 days, 65.3% said were seriously considering quitting, and 60.2% said they had stopped using all tobacco products for 1 or more days during the past 12 months in attempts to quit.

According to the report, use of tobacco products was higher among students who had severe (14.2%), moderate (11.2%) or mild (9.6%) symptoms of psychological distress compared with those with no signs of psychological distress (5.5%).

Additionally, non-Hispanic Black students reported the highest rate of tobacco product use (5.2%) and, specifically, cigar use (3.1%).

Mitch Zeller, JD, director of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products, said the findings will help the agency “evaluate, design, and implement our tobacco regulatory and educational programs.”

“It’s revealing that about two-thirds of current youth users expressed a desire to quit tobacco products and that three-quarters of youth reported having seen or heard a tobacco prevention ad,” Zeller said in a press release. “But the 2021 use data are still concerning, and will be valuable for policymakers and educators committed to protecting the next generation from tobacco-related disease and death.”

References:

FDA. Results from the Annual National Youth Tobacco Survey. https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/youth-and-tobacco/results-annual-national-youth-tobacco-survey. Published Jan. 10, 2022. Accessed March 10, 2022.

Gentzke AS, et al. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2022;doi:10.15585/mmwr.ss7105a1.