children s health issues
Substance Use in Adolescents
Tobacco Use in Adolescents
The majority of adults who smoke cigarettes began Smoking and Other Tobacco Use during adolescence. If adolescents do not try cigarettes before age 19, they are very unlikely to become smokers as adults. Combustible tobacco products are products that need to be burned so they can be consumed, for example, cigarettes, cigars, and hookahs. Rates of combustible tobacco use among adolescents fell dramatically in the 1990s and 2000s and continue to decline. The Monitoring the Future Survey reported that in 2021, about 4.1% of 12th graders reported current cigarette use (smoked in the previous 30 days), which was down from 28.3% in 1991 and from 5.7% in 2019. Only about 2% of 12th graders reported smoking every day. The strongest risk factors for adolescent smoking are Having parents who smoke Having peers and role models (such as celebrities) who smoke Other risk factors often associated with starting smoking during childhood include Poor school performance Other high-risk behavior (such as excessive dieting, particularly among girls; physical fighting and drunk driving, particularly among boys; or use of alcohol or other substances) Poor problem-solving abilities Availability of cigarettes Poor self-esteem Pipe smoking is relatively rare in the United States. The percentage of people over age 12 who smoke cigars has declined. Adolescents may also use tobacco products in other forms. About 2% of high school students are current users of smokeless tobacco, and this rate has declined over the past 10 years. Smoking and Other Tobacco Use can be chewed (chewing tobacco), placed between the lower lip and gum (dipping tobacco, or dip), or inhaled into the nose (snuff). Parents can help prevent their adolescent from smoking and using smokeless tobacco products by being positive role models (that is, by not smoking or chewing), openly discussing the hazards of tobacco, and encouraging adolescents who already smoke or chew to quit, including supporting them in Changing behavior . 