Teen Smoking Hits Historic Lows — Now Just 1.4% of U.S. Youth

Remember when every teen movie featured a character dramatically lighting up, angst practically wafting from the cigarette? Apparently, that’s just ancient history now. A new report from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reveals that smoking among middle and high schoolers has hit a historic low: a mere 1.4%.

Let that satisfying number sink in. For context, back in 1997, a whopping 36% of high school students were regular smokers, and 70% had at least tried it. We've officially entered an era where a pack of cigarettes is more likely to be a vintage prop than a playground staple.

The Shifting Sands of Nicotine

It's not just traditional cigarettes taking a nosedive. Nicotine vaping, or e-cigarette use, also dropped to 5.2% in 2025, the lowest rate since its 2019 peak. Though, because the nicotine industry is nothing if not inventive, there's been a slight uptick in nicotine pouch use over the past five years. Good news, though: that rate seems to have stabilized at a low 1.7%.

Public health researchers are, understandably, thrilled. They’ve been tracking these trends since 1999, trying to understand how young people interact with a market that keeps reinventing ways to deliver nicotine. The introduction of vapes in the early 2010s and pouches in the mid-2010s certainly changed the game, leading some to believe e-cigarettes actually replaced traditional smoking for many, especially those 16 and up.

And here’s the crucial distinction: smoking’s real harm comes from burning tobacco leaves. Regulated vapes and pouches don't burn tobacco, which means they pose fewer risks. Key word: regulated. The FDA has a list of authorized products that have been tested and deemed "appropriate for the protection of public health." They could, theoretically, help reduce tobacco-related diseases.

The catch? The U.S. market is largely flooded with unauthorized e-cigarettes. Which, if you think about it, is both impressive and slightly terrifying. These unregulated products can still mess with your heart, lungs, and oral health, depending on what dubious concoction is in their e-liquids. The FDA is approving new products, even some flavored vapes, which has sparked its own fiery debate.

Because, let's be honest, the main concern here isn't just the products themselves, but who's using them. Early nicotine use is a fast track to lifelong addiction, and nobody wants to trade one bad habit for another.

Across the Pond and Beyond

While U.S. youth are largely saying "no thanks" to nicotine, adult smoking here has plateaued. And globally, the picture gets a bit hazy. Many countries don't have recent, reliable data on e-cigarette use, and everyone asks different questions. So, researchers tend to compare the U.S. to similar countries like Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, and the U.K.

Interestingly, the U.S. has a significantly lower rate of e-cigarette use among 18-and-unders compared to those other nations. The World Health Organization (WHO) even noted that in 2000, nearly 50% of U.S. adults smoked — a number that has plummeted below 10% by 2024, thanks largely to public health campaigns that finally convinced people that inhaling burning leaves isn't peak wellness. Other countries saw declines, but not as dramatic.

Still, it's not all clear skies. U.S. adult e-cigarette use is higher than in some comparable countries, like the Netherlands or Germany. And we're seeing some bizarre trends, like "cigfluencers" openly promoting smoking and influencers linked to the "Make America Healthy Again" movement (yes, really) pushing nicotine as a health product. Because apparently that's where we are now.

Despite the good news for the kids, public health officials are keeping a close eye on these numbers. Because the last thing anyone wants is for a generation that largely dodged cigarettes to suddenly decide nicotine is the secret to glowing skin and good vibes. That would be, to put it mildly, a public health disaster.