 Latest News
Youth E-Cigarette Use Drops to Lowest Level in a Decade; Youth Use of Nicotine Pouches Remains Low
Half a million fewer U.S. youth reported current use of e-cigarettes in 2024 compared to 2023, according to new data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) released in September by FDA and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The nationally representative data featured in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) includes findings on e-cigarette and nicotine pouch use among U.S. youth, two categories of tobacco products the FDA and CDC are monitoring closely, particularly regarding youth use and appeal.
Findings showed there was a significant drop in the number of U.S. middle and high school students who reported current (past 30 days) e-cigarette use – a decrease from 2.13 million (7.7%) youth in 2023 to 1.63 million (5.9%) youth in 2024. This decline was largely driven by reduced e-cigarette use among high schoolers (1.56 million to 1.21 million), with no statistically significant change in current e-cigarette use among middle school students within the past year.
Youth nicotine pouch use did not show a statistically significant change from 2023 (1.5% in 2023 and 1.8% in 2024). Nicotine pouches are small, dissolvable, flavored pouches containing nicotine derived from tobacco that users place in the mouth between the lip and gum. Of the nearly half a million middle and high school students who reported current nicotine pouch use, 22.4% used them daily. Among those who currently used nicotine pouches, the vast majority used flavored products (85.6%), with mint (53.3%), fruit (22.4%) and menthol (19.3%) being the most commonly used flavors.
FDA Issues Final Rule Increasing the Minimum Age for Certain Restrictions on Tobacco Sales
In August, FDA announced a final rule that raises the minimum age for certain restrictions on tobacco product sales. These requirements are in line with legislation signed in December 2019 that immediately raised the federal minimum age of sale of tobacco products in the United States from 18 to 21 years of age. Once implemented, the requirements are expected to help decrease underage tobacco sales.
Beginning Sept. 30, retailers must verify with photo identification the age of anyone under the age of 30 who is trying to purchase tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. Additionally, starting Sept. 30, retailers may not sell tobacco products via vending machine in facilities where individuals under 21 are present or permitted to enter at any time.
This action is part of ongoing federal efforts to protect young people from accessing tobacco products. More than 95% of U.S. adults who smoke daily smoked their first cigarette by the age of 21. As of August, the agency has conducted more than 1.5 million compliance checks of tobacco retailers that have resulted in 134,000 warning letters, more than 33,000 civil money penalties and 230 no-tobacco-sale orders for violations related to federal age restrictions.
FDA Announces Funding for Three Diversity Supplement Applications in Tobacco Regulatory Science
Today, FDA is pleased to announce support for three grant supplements to enhance diversity within the tobacco regulatory research workforce. These awards made through the Tobacco Regulatory Science Program (TRSP), an interagency partnership between the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and CTP, will allow the following research projects to support scientists from diverse backgrounds:
The funding is administered by NIH and made available through FDA as part of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.
In April, FDA and NIH issued a Notice of Information to encourage applications for administrative supplements to enhance the tobacco regulatory research workforce by recruiting, mentoring, and supporting researchers from diverse backgrounds—including those from groups historically underrepresented in health-related research.
In December 2023, CTP released a new 5-year strategic plan highlighting key programmatic and workforce initiatives for the next five years, including health equity as one of four cross-cutting themes. The commitment of funds to promote diversity in the tobacco regulatory science workforce reflects the Center’s ongoing commitment to advancing health equity as part of the new strategic plan.
REGISTRATION OPEN: FDA/NIH Public Meeting on Advancing Smoking Cessation
On Monday, Oct. 21, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EDT, FDA and NIH will host a joint public meeting entitled, “Advancing Smoking Cessation: FDA and NIH Priorities.” The focus of the meeting is on advancing innovation of smoking cessation products to help both adults and youth.
The meeting will feature presentations and panel discussions on several smoking cessation-focused topics and includes an opportunity on several topics related to cessation.
In Case You Missed It: Recent CTP News
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This newsletter serves as a digest of the latest announcements and stories out of CTP. It is a complement to our Spotlight on Science newsletter and CTP News e-blasts.
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