There’s good news out of the Golden State, youth use of tobacco and vapor products is at record lows.
Indeed, according to data from the California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS), in 2021, only 1% of 7th and 9th graders and 2% of 11th graders reported current cigarette smoking, defined as having smoked a cigarette on “one or more days” in the 30 days prior to the survey.
Further, since 2015, combustible cigarette use has declined by 50% among 7th graders, by 75% among 9th graders, and by 71.4% among 11th graders. In fact, 2021 combustible cigarette use rates are some of the lowest levels recorded.
Current vapor product use has declined significantly as well. According to the CHKS, 2015 was the peak year for e-cigarette use among California youth, with 7% of 7th graders, 13% of 9th graders, and 14% of 11th graders reporting having used an electronic cigarette product in the 30 days prior to the survey.
In 2021, only 2% of 7th graders, 6% of 9th graders, and 10% of 11th graders reported current e-cigarette use. Among 7th graders, vaping has declined by 71% since 2015, among 9th graders by 53.8%, and among 11th graders by 28.6%.
Lindsey Stroud – IWF.org – 2022-09-20.
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