Tobacco Use Among Middle and High School Students - United States, 2011-2015

What is already known about this topic? Tobacco use and addiction mostly begin during youth and young adulthood. Nicotine exposure during adolescence can cause addiction, might harm brain development, and could lead to sustained tobacco product use among youths. What is added by this report? In 2015, one in four high school students and one in 13 middle school students reported current use of any tobacco product (≥1 day in the past 30 days). An estimated 4.7 million high school and middle school students reported current use of any tobacco product. During 2011–2015, substantial increases were observed in e-cigarette and hookah use among high school and middle school students, whereas significant decreases were observed in the use of cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, pipe tobacco, and bidis, resulting in no decline in tobacco use overall. During 2015, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) were the most commonly used tobacco product among middle (5.3%) and high (16.0%) school students. What are the implications for public health practice? Use of emerging tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, is on the rise among middle and high school students; therefore, it is critical that comprehensive tobacco control and prevention strategies for youths address all tobacco products and not just cigarettes. © 2016, Department of Health and Human Services. All rights reserved.