Cigarette use among middle and high school students is down, but other tobacco products are increasing.
The Centers for Disease Control announced the finding in its Morbidity and Mortality weekly report. The federal agency uses the journal to release weekly findings that may affect the lives of Americans. The study on tobacco use takes data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey – which estimates tobacco use for teens around the country for the prior year.
According to the report, about 1 in 4 high school students reported currently using tobacco products. Cigarette and cigar use declined significantly in the U.S. between 2011 and 2015. That is countered by the rise of e-cigarette and hookah use. The finding led researchers to conclude no overall change in tobacco use for middle and high school students in that same time period.
The numbers look similar for Indiana. In 2014, one in four Indiana high school students reported tobacco use. Eight percent of middle school students also reported current tobacco use. E-cigarette consumption increased between 2000 and 2014, while traditional tobacco products such as cigarettes were down for the 14 years data are available.
Although there has been a big drop for Indiana’s youth tobacco use in the last 14 years, 2012 through 2014 has shown no significant drop in tobacco usage for the same group.
The Indiana State Department of Health says nicotine exposure during adolescence can lead to addiction, harm brain development, and lead to other health complications.
