National Survey Shows Long-Term Drop in Youth Tobacco Use, But Over Two Million Youth Still Use Tobacco Products

National Survey Shows Long-Term Drop in Youth Tobacco Use, But Over Two Million Youth Still Use Tobacco Products

Statement of Yolonda C. Richardson, President and CEO, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
June 23, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The results of the 2025 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) published today in a scientific journal underscore both the enormous long-term progress the U.S. has made in reducing youth use of tobacco products and that youth tobacco product use remains a serious public health problem.

In good news for the nation's health, there were significant declines in current (past 30-day) youth use of any tobacco product, any combusted (smoked) tobacco product and e-cigarettes between 2022 and 2025. It is especially encouraging that youth cigarette smoking remains at historically low levels, with 1.8% of high school students reporting current smoking in 2025. This progress is a remarkable public health success story that will save lives for generations to come.

While progress is clear, we cannot take our foot off the accelerator when over two million middle and high school students still use tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches. There was no significant decline in overall youth use of e-cigarettes from 2024 to 2025. Of the 1.4 million youth who used e-cigarettes in 2025, over 40% reported frequent use. In addition, nicotine pouch use increased significantly among high school students during 2022-2025.

The survey results also underscore the key role of flavors in driving youth use. About 90% of youth e-cigarette and nicotine pouch users reported using flavored products in the past 30 days, with fruit the most commonly used e-cigarette flavor. These results add to concerns about the FDA's recent decisions to authorize the sale of several fruit-flavored e-cigarettes and to issue a new enforcement policy that allows illegal products - including flavored e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches - to be sold without full scientific review and authorization by the agency.

Our nation must continue to prioritize protecting kids from these harmful and highly addictive products. This includes reinstating and fully funding CDC's Office on Smoking and Health (OSH), which has played a leading role in the nation's efforts to address youth tobacco use. It is also critical that FDA conducts science-based premarket review of new tobacco products, free of industry and political influence, and enhances enforcement against illicit tobacco products in coordination with other federal agencies.