Teen Tobacco and E-cigarette Use Hits Record Low in 2022

In 2022, the usage rate of tobacco and electronic cigarettes among teenagers reached the lowest level on record.

Data from the Arizona Youth Survey (AYS) indicates that by the year 2022, only 3.7% of 8th grade students, 6.2% of 10th grade students, and 9.4% of 12th grade students reported having tried combustible cigarettes. Since 2016, usage among 8th grade students has decreased by 73.4%, 10th grade students by 70.5%, and 12th grade students by 69.8%.

The current usage of cigarettes, defined as having smoked at least once in the 30 days prior to the survey, has also decreased. By 2022, only 1% of 8th graders, 1.6% of 10th graders, and 2.5% of 12th graders reported current use of combustible cigarettes. Similar to previous usage trends, current cigarette usage among 8th graders has decreased by 77.8% since 2016, 10th graders by 77.1%, and 12th graders by 79.8%.

As new reduced-harm tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes, continue to enter the market, policymakers are focusing on the use of e-cigarettes among youth. According to the American Youth Survey (AYS), teen e-cigarette use reached its peak in 2018 and has steadily declined in the following years.

In 2022, a survey of eighth grade students revealed that 13.6% of them had tried e-cigarettes in the past, while 6.3% reported current use. These numbers represent a decline of 50.9% in past use and 53% in current use since 2018. Among tenth grade students, 20.6% reported past e-cigarette use and 10.3% reported current use. Between 2018 and 2022, there was a decrease of 47.6% in past use and a decrease of 51.6% in current use among tenth graders. Similarly, among twelfth grade students in 2022, 27% reported past e-cigarette use and 14.8% reported current use. These numbers represent declines of 41.1% in past use and 43.3% in current use since 2018.

As policy makers introduce legislation aimed at addressing youth electronic cigarette use, they must understand that both youth smoking rates and e-cigarette use have significantly declined.

In recent years, local lawmakers in Phoenix and Tempe have reviewed policies aimed at banning the sale of flavored tobacco and vapor products. While addressing youth use of any age-restricted products is commendable, these policies overlook the decline in youth use of vapor products.

Furthermore, national survey data shows that taste is not the primary reason for adolescent electronic cigarette use. For example, according to data from the national youth tobacco survey, among middle and high school students who have tried electronic cigarettes, 57.8% said they did so because friends have used them, 47.6% said they tried out of curiosity, and 25.1% mentioned trying electronic cigarettes because they "felt anxious, stressed or sad," with only 13.5% mentioning taste as a reason for trying electronic cigarettes. In addition, among current electronic cigarette users, 43.4% said they use them because of feelings of anxiety, stress and depression, 28.3% said they use them because friends do, and only 13.2% use electronic cigarettes because of their taste, such as mint, candy, fruit or chocolate.

Before introducing legislation, lawmakers should be aware of the latest data that indicates the ratio of tobacco and vaping products among teenagers is at a record low. Therefore, policymakers must avoid creating policies that restrict adult access to combustible cigarette alternatives.

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