Status: Improving
Most Recent Data:
3.5
percent
(2019)
Target:
0.0
percent
Desired Direction:
Decrease desired
Baseline:
4.0
percent of adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 25 years who had not previously smoked cigarettes in their lifetime first smoked cigarettes in the past 12 months in 2018
Eliminate the initiation of the use of cigarettes among adolescents and young adults
Summary
Most adults who smoke started before age 18 years, so preventing adolescents from starting is key to reducing smoking in adults. A comprehensive approach that includes raising the minimum age for tobacco sales to 21 years can help reduce smoking initiation in adolescents and young adults.
Topics: Tobacco Use, Adolescents
Workgroup: Tobacco Use Workgroup
