California's Youth Smoking and Vaping Rates Decrease in 2021

Oct.18.2022
California's Youth Smoking and Vaping Rates Decrease in 2021
The CHKS report shows a decline in tobacco and e-cigarette use among California students, attributed to T21 law.

According to a report from the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS), only 1% of 7th and 9th-grade students, and 2% of 11th-grade students reported smoking in 2021, defined as smoking "one or more days" within 30 days prior to the survey. The data also shows that since 2015, smoking rates have decreased by 50% among 7th-grade students, 75% among 9th-grade students, and 71.4% among 11th-grade students.


Furthermore, the use of e-cigarettes has also dropped. According to a survey, e-cigarette usage peaked in 2015, with 7% of students, 13% of 9th graders, and 14% of 11th graders reporting they had used e-cigarettes in the 30 days prior to the survey. However, in 2021, this rate hit an all-time low, with only 2% of 7th graders, 6% of 9th graders, and 10% of 11th graders reporting current e-cigarette use.


Earlier this year, additional data was released regarding the legal impact of California in 2016, which reported a positive trend. The law raised the legal age for tobacco sales from 18 to 21 (T21). In 2016, California passed a law that raised the age limit for tobacco sales from 18 to 21. The Pacific Research and Evaluation Prevention Research Center conducted a study called "New research investigating the impact of California's minimum age of 21 for tobacco sales.


Data compilation shows that the T21 law has had a positive impact on public health among 7th, 9th, and 11th grade students statewide. The survey results are summarized on News-Medical.


Reduce the prevalence of lifelong use of combustible tobacco and e-cigarettes, as well as the past month's use of combustible tobacco among the entire student population.


Over the past month, there has been an increase in the usage of electronic cigarettes.


Reduce lifetime and past 30-day use of all tobacco and nicotine products among Latinx youth.


Positive public health impacts on other racial and ethnic groups that are distinct.


Title: California's E-cigarette Usage Rates, T21, California Health Children Survey A recent survey in California has revealed significant statistics on the usage of electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes, in the state. The survey also examined the T21, a law that raises the minimum age for buying tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to 21. The survey, named California Health Children Survey, reported that 7% of surveyed high school students had used e-cigarettes at least once in the past 30 days. Moreover, 15% of 11th graders reported current usage of e-cigarettes. The survey also showed that T21 has resulted in a decrease in tobacco product usage among youths under 21 years old. There has been a significant drop in the usage of e-cigarettes, with a decrease of 6% in the past 12 months alone. Overall, the survey suggests that e-cigarette usage remains an issue in California, particularly among high school students. However, the implementation of T21 has shown a positive impact in decreasing tobacco usage among younger demographics, including e-cigarettes.


Statement:


This article is compiled from third-party information and is intended for industry discussion and learning purposes.


This article does not represent the views of 2FIRSTS, and 2FIRSTS cannot confirm the authenticity or accuracy of its contents. The translation of this article is intended only for industry exchange and research purposes.


Due to limitations in the level of translation, the translated article may not express the same meaning as the original. Please refer to the original article for accuracy.


2FIRSTS maintains complete alignment with the Chinese government regarding any domestic, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, or international statements and positions.


The copyright of the compiled information belongs to the original media and author. If there is any infringement, please contact us for deletion.



Disclaimer

This article is provided solely for professional research, industry discussion, and informational purposes. Any references to brands, companies, products, technologies, or policies are made for factual reporting and analytical purposes only, and do not constitute endorsement, recommendation, promotion, or advertising by 2Firsts.

Nicotine-containing products, including but not limited to cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and nicotine pouches, carry significant health risks. Readers are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions, including age restrictions and access limitations.

The information contained in this article should not be regarded as investment, legal, medical, regulatory, or commercial advice. While 2Firsts strives to ensure the accuracy and reliability of its content, it does not assume liability for any direct or indirect loss arising from errors, omissions, inaccuracies, or reliance on the information contained herein.

This article is not intended for individuals below the legal age for accessing tobacco or nicotine-related information in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright Notice

This article is either original content produced by 2Firsts or content reproduced, translated, summarized, or adapted from third-party sources with attribution where applicable. The intellectual property rights of the original content remain with 2Firsts or the respective original rights holders.

No individual or organization may copy, reproduce, distribute, republish, modify, translate, or otherwise use this content without prior authorization. Any unauthorized use may result in legal action.

For copyright-related inquiries, corrections, or removal requests, please contact: info@2firsts.com.

 

AI-Assisted Translation and Editing Notice

Portions of this article may have been translated, edited, or reviewed with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools to improve efficiency and readability. Due to the limitations of AI-assisted translation and editing, discrepancies, omissions, or inaccuracies may exist when compared with the original source.

Where applicable, readers are advised to refer to the original source for the most complete and accurate information. If you identify any errors or believe that any content infringes upon your rights, please contact us at info@2firsts.com, and we will review and address the matter promptly.

Research | Swedish Study Finds Oral Lesions in 79% of Examined Nicotine Pouch Users, With Distinct Tissue Responses
Research | Swedish Study Finds Oral Lesions in 79% of Examined Nicotine Pouch Users, With Distinct Tissue Responses
A new Swedish study found oral mucosal lesions in 79% of examined nicotine pouch users and 89% of tobacco-derived snus users, with different tissue-response patterns between the two categories. For manufacturers and regulators, the findings shift attention toward product formulation, flavouring, pouch materials and local oral exposure, not only whether a product contains tobacco. The study found no higher prevalence of caries or periodontal disease, but it could not establish causality, long-term outcomes or differences between individual products or designs.
Special Report
Jul.27
PMI Q2 Call: ZYN Growth, IQOS Pricing and a Diverging Global Tobacco Market
PMI Q2 Call: ZYN Growth, IQOS Pricing and a Diverging Global Tobacco Market
Philip Morris International’s second-quarter earnings call offered new detail on its smoke-free strategy. Management said it would increase U.S. investment behind nicotine pouch brand ZYN, keep IQOS focused on volume before stronger pricing, and use SENTIA, DELIA, LEVIA, VEEV and ZYN to manage tax and regulatory pressure across Japan and Europe. Analysts from Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, UBS and other firms also pressed PMI on profitability, market share, cigarette resilience and the durability of its global transformation over coming quarters.
Jul.24
Charlie’s Says 30 PACHA Vape SKUs Tentatively Identified for FDA’s Non-Priority Enforcement Public List
Charlie’s Says 30 PACHA Vape SKUs Tentatively Identified for FDA’s Non-Priority Enforcement Public List
Charlie’s Holdings said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration notified the company on June 23, 2026, that 30 PACHA vape SKUs with submitted PMTAs had been tentatively identified for inclusion on a planned public-facing FDA webpage. Under enforcement guidance issued by FDA in May, the webpage is intended to identify certain unauthorized products for which the agency generally does not intend to prioritize enforcement of premarket authorization requirements. Charlie’s disclosed the development alongside second-quarter revenue of $3.8 million, up 116% year over year.
Aug.25
Japan’s Heated Tobacco Tax Changes Reshape Consumer Choices, Survey Reveals Impact of Price and Income
Japan’s Heated Tobacco Tax Changes Reshape Consumer Choices, Survey Reveals Impact of Price and Income
A consumer survey by Japanese heated tobacco information platform RELAZO found that rising tobacco prices and planned heated tobacco tax changes may influence smoking decisions among Japanese consumers. The survey covered 49,879 men and women aged 20 to 69 nationwide. It found that around 40% of respondents cumulatively indicated they may consider quitting when a pack reaches ¥600 (approximately US$4.1), while nearly 90% expressed potential quitting intentions at a ¥1,000 (approximately US$6.8) price level. The survey also found significant differences by income level, with lower-income respondents showing greater sensitivity to price increases.
Jul.24
JT’s Ploom Volumes Rise 43.5% as Cigarettes Anchor Its Transition
JT’s Ploom Volumes Rise 43.5% as Cigarettes Anchor Its Transition
JT’s Ploom heated-tobacco volumes rose 43.5% in the first half of 2026, while combustibles still represented about 97% of its tobacco volume and remained the main earnings base. In Japan, reduced-risk products now account for 48.7% of industry shipments, shifting competition from category adoption towards brand share, pricing and consumer retention. JT’s results offer a revealing case of a traditional tobacco company pursuing a prolonged, dual-track transformation.
JTI
Jul.30
AIR Invests $20 Million in Greentank, Deepening Capital Ties Across the Vape Supply Chain
AIR Invests $20 Million in Greentank, Deepening Capital Ties Across the Vape Supply Chain
Nasdaq-listed AIR Global has invested $20 million in preferred shares of Canadian vaporization technology company Greentank, deepening a partnership established in 2023. AIR gains a board nomination right, access to new technologies, enhanced commercial terms and long-term supply assurances, while retaining an option to increase its stake. Greentank’s Quantum Chip platform powers Crown Switch and forms part of AIR’s planned U.S. PMTA dossier, linking capital investment more closely with product technology, regulatory evidence and supply-chain control.
Special Report
Jul.29