Tobacco Use and Vaping in the US: Statistics, Trends, and Health Implications
In This Article
The United States faces a persistent tobacco epidemic. While smoking rates are declining, e-cigarette use, especially among youth, is alarming.
This blog post analyzes US tobacco and vaping trends, health risks, and prevention needs, emphasizing the urgency of addressing this public health crisis.
Tobacco Use and Vaping Statistics
The prevalence of tobacco use and vaping varies significantly across different demographics. 10% of high schoolers still vape, fueling concerns about nicotine addiction and long-term health risks.
Understanding these patterns is essential for developing effective prevention and treatment strategies.
Prevalence of Tobacco Use and Vaping Among Different Age Groups
Here’s the data on tobacco use and vaping among different age groups:
- In 2021, approximately 22.0% (about 61.6 million people) of the general population aged 12 and older reported using tobacco products or vaping nicotine in the past 30 days.
- Among adolescents aged 17-18 years, cigarette smoking prevalence decreased from 36.8% in 1997 to 3.0% in 2020, while past 30-day nicotine vaping surged from 11.0% in 2017 to 25.5% in 2019.
- In 2022, 24.8% of 12th graders reported any nicotine use, with 4% reporting cigarette smoking and 20.7% reporting vaping nicotine.
- Among young adults aged 18-24 years, cigarette smoking prevalence decreased from 29.1% in 1997 to 5.4% in 2020, while exclusive vaping increased from 1.7% to 4.0% between 2014-15 and 2018-19.
Prevalence of Tobacco Use and Vaping By Gender
The graph below shows that men have higher smoking rates (13.1%) compared to women (10.1%).
Prevalence of Tobacco Use and Vaping By Ethnicity
The bar chart below illustrates the smoking rates by ethnicity.
The data includes:
- American Indians/Alaska Natives have the highest smoking rate at 21.9%.
- Non-Hispanic Whites at 16.6%
- African Americans at 16.8%
- Hispanics at 10.1%
- Asian Americans at 7.0%
Changes in Tobacco Use and Vaping Rates Over the Past Decade
Over the past decade, the rates of tobacco use and vaping in the US have gone through significant changes, particularly among young adults.
- Cigarette smoking among U.S. young adults has seen a substantial decline, with smoking prevalence dropping from 29.1% in 1997 to 5.4% in 2020 for those aged 18-24 years.
- There has been a notable surge in e-cigarette use among adolescents, with past 30-day nicotine vaping among those aged 17-18 years increasing from 11.0% in 2017 to 25.5% in 2019.
- The overall smoking rate among U.S. adults has also declined, with 12% of adults reporting cigarette smoking in the past week as of 2023, a significant decrease from the 20% or higher rates observed from 1944 through 2012.
- The decline in smoking rates is partly attributed to increased awareness of the health dangers associated with smoking and effective public health campaigns, such as the FDA’s Real Cost media campaign.
Correlation Between Vaping and Smoking
Studies have shown an inverse relationship between vaping and smoking, with the increase in vaping associated with a more rapid decline in smoking rates among youth and young adults.
- The decline in past 30-day smoking prevalence accelerated by two to four times after 2014, coinciding with the rise in vaping.
- Despite the inverse relationship, the trends in vaping and smoking appear to be largely independent, with the surge in adolescent vaping from 2017-2019 not corresponding to a similar increase in young adult vaping.
- Regulatory actions, including the removal of flavorings from some e-cigarette products and state-level bans on flavored tobacco products, have also influenced vaping and smoking behaviors.
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The Impact of Tobacco Use and Vaping on Public Health
Smoking and vaping are bad for the health. They can affect smokers and non-smokers via secondhand exposure. Let’s take a look at this in more detail.
Burden of Tobacco-Related Diseases on the Healthcare System
Tobacco use places an enormous strain on the healthcare system:
- Economic impact: Smoking-related illnesses cost the United States over $600 billion annually, including more than $240 billion in direct healthcare spending and nearly $185 billion in lost productivity.
- Healthcare utilization: Smokers generally require more medical care, including more hospitalizations and longer hospital stays compared to non-smokers.
- Chronic disease management: Tobacco use contributes significantly to the prevalence and severity of chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, and COPD, which require ongoing medical management and resources.
Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Its Effects
Secondhand smoke poses serious health risks to non-smokers:
- Mortality: Secondhand smoke exposure causes approximately 41,000 deaths per year in the United States.
- Cardiovascular effects: Non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke have a 25-30% increased risk of developing coronary heart disease.
- Respiratory issues: Children exposed to secondhand smoke are at higher risk for respiratory infections, ear infections, and asthma attacks.
- Cancer risk: Secondhand smoke exposure increases the risk of lung cancer in non-smoking adults by 20-30%.
- Economic burden: The cost of lost productivity due to secondhand smoke exposure is estimated at $5.6 billion annually.
The Role of Tobacco and Vaping in Chronic Diseases
Tobacco use and vaping significantly contribute to the development and progression of chronic diseases:
- Cardiovascular disease: Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.
- Respiratory diseases: Tobacco use is the primary cause of COPD and exacerbates asthma symptoms.
- Cancer: Smoking is causally linked to multiple types of cancer, including lung, throat, and bladder cancer.
- Diabetes: Smokers have a 30-40% higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to non-smokers.
- Vaping and chronic disease: While the long-term effects of vaping are still being studied, there is evidence of acute lung injury (EVALI) associated with e-cigarette use and concerns about potential chronic health effects.
The alarming statistics on tobacco use and vaping in the US reveal a persistent public health crisis. The devastating health consequences further highlight the urgent need for comprehensive action to combat this epidemic.
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- Jones, J. “U.S. Cigarette Smoking Rate Steady Near Historical Low.” Gallup, 2023.
- Esteban-Lopez, M.,et al. “Health Effects and Known Pathology Associated with the Use of E-Cigarettes.” Toxicology Reports, 2022.
- “The Impact of E-Cigarettes on the Lung.” American Lung Association.
- “Demographic Characteristics, Cigarette Smoking, and e-Cigarette Use Among US Adults.” JAMA Network Open, 2020.
- “Cigarette Smoking and Electronic Cigarette Use.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.