Tobacco
Tobacco kills people, and the younger a person starts using tobacco products, the higher the chances are that they will experience life-threatening consequences. However, this is a problem that extends beyond the user and affects our community as a whole.
- 31,200 youth under the age of 18 become new daily smokers each year
- 16% of Texas middle and high school students currently use tobacco
- 503,000 youth alive in Texas today will die prematurely from smoking
- Texas spends $5.83 billion annually to cover health care costs directly caused by smoking
- Second-hand smoke kills 50,000 Americans each year
Summary of the Science
How does tobacco affect youth?
When young people smoke, it can have serious consequences for their health. It can result in:
- Addiction to nicotine
- Lung damage
- Cardiovascular damage
Exposure to nicotine can also affect brain development and a young person’s overall health and well-being.
- 16% of middle and high school students used tobacco in the past 30 days. Lifetime tobacco use among students was 30%.
- 26% of middle and high school students have used an electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) at some point in their lifetime; 12% have used one in the past month.
The Effects of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)
Electronic vapor products, often referred to as electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), include e-cigarettes, personal vaporizers, vape pens, e-cigars, e-hookah, and other devices that produce an aerosolized mixture containing flavored liquids and nicotine. These products are increasingly popular among youth, but still pose a major public health concern.
Though ENDS are often marketed as a “safer” product than traditional cigarettes, they still contain nicotine and other chemicals, and they are addicting. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently began investing the outbreak of lung injury associated with e-cigarette use or vaping. As a result, the CDC and several other public health organizations recommend that people refrain from using ENDS while the investigation is ongoing.
- 26% of middle and high school students have used an ENDS at some point in their lifetime
- 12% have used one in the past month – that’s three times the amount of students who say they’ve used traditional cigarettes in that same time period.
- 67% of middle and high school students perceive ENDS as dangerous. This number is notably lower than the perception of danger around tobacco products as a whole (85%).
