WASHINGTON, D.C. June 9, 2016 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today released results from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) showing youth cigarette use has declined to 10.8 percent, a historic low. The data from the 2015 survey also showed electronic cigarettes and other electronic vapor products are the most commonly used tobacco product among high school students (44.9 percent).
Following is a statement from Chris Hansen, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN):
We 're pleased to see that the youth cigarette smoking rate continues to decline and has now reached a historic low. Since 1991, cigarette smoking among high school students has decreased from 27.5 percent to 10.8 percent, showing significant progress in the fight against tobacco use.
However, the decline in youth cigarette smoking rates is only half of the story. Unfortunately, the data shows youth are increasingly shifting their tobacco use from cigarettes to other tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, and continuing disturbing consumption rates of cigars (10.3 percent) and smokeless tobacco products (7.3 percent).
This trend illustrates the critical importance of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 's (FDA) recent action asserting its authority over tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, cigars, and smokeless tobacco products. Yet the tobacco industry is now pushing lawmakers to undo several key aspects of the FDA 's oversight authority including, allowing cigars and e-cigarettes to remain on store shelves without an FDA public health review and excluding some cheap and flavored cigars from any regulation whatsoever.
FDA 's authority over all tobacco products is a crucial first step to saving lives and keeping the next generation from starting lifelong addictions. We urge Congress to keep its commitment to protect the nation 's public health and reject the cigar and electronic cigarette industries ' pleas to evade FDA oversight.
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Jill Courtney or Alissa Crispino
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
Phone: (202) 585-3278 or (202) 661-5772
Email: [email protected] or [email protected]
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