Governor's Lack of Action on Tobacco Use Endangers Public Health
CHARLESTON, W. Va.
New Report: Number of Youth Using Tobacco Products is Lowest Since 1999; Disparities Remain
October 17, 2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. – New 2024 data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Youth Tobacco Survey found that more than 2 million youth or 8.1% reported using commercial tobacco products. This number is the lowest since 1999. Looking by race and ethnicity, the survey found that current tobacco use was highest among American Indian and Alaska Native youth for any tobacco product and e-cigarette use.
The survey also found that e-cigarettes remain the most popular tobacco products amongst youth with 1.63 million reporting current usage. Nicotine pouches climbed to the second most popular product with almost half a million youth reporting current usage.
The following is a statement from Lisa Lacasse, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN):
“We are pleased to see the number of middle and high school students using tobacco products trending downward – declines that are no doubt the result of decades of advocacy for effective tobacco control policies at the local, state and federal level — but the data released today shows that there is still work to do. We are concerned with the continued popularity of e-cigarettes and growing use of nicotine pouches amongst students. Flavors are key tools that Big Tobacco uses to target youth and young adults into a lifetime of addiction and this survey shows that strategy works.
“The increase in tobacco use among American Indian and Alaska Native youth is incredibly troubling. Big Tobacco has a long history of targeting this population with culturally specific names, symbols, and icons in the marketing of commercial tobacco products. Without ensuring that those who experience the greatest burden of tobacco use and its associated disease and death are also covered by comprehensive tobacco control laws, disparities related to tobacco use will persist and potentially widen.
“ACS CAN continues to call on the FDA to quickly complete its premarket review process for all new tobacco products and remove all unauthorized products from the market. This starts by immediately reversing its decision to issue marketing orders for flavored e-cigarettes given this new data and to deny marketing orders for any flavored tobacco product moving forward.
“ACS CAN is also calling on state and local governments to adequately fund tobacco prevention and cessation programs that can help address the disparities outlined in this new data in addition to enacting proven tobacco control policies such as comprehensive smoke-free laws and regular and significant tax increases on all tobacco products.”
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