Trends in the Prevalence of Tobacco Use National YRBS: 1991—2019
The national Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) monitors health behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth and adults in the United States. The national YRBS is conducted every two years during the spring semester and provides data representative of 9th through 12th grade students in public and private schools throughout the United States.
| Percentages | Trend from 1991–20191 | Change from 2017–20192 | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 1993 | 1995 | 1997 | 1999 | 2001 | 2003 | 2005 | 2007 | 2009 | 2011 | 2013 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 | ||
| Ever tried cigarette smoking (even one or two puffs) |
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| 70.1 | 69.5 | 71.3 | 70.2 | 70.4 | 63.9 | 58.4 | 54.3 | 50.3 | 46.3 | 44.7 | 41.1 | 32.3 | 28.9 | 24.1 | Decreased 1991—2019 No change 1991—1999 Decreased 1999—2019 |
Decreased |
| Current cigarette use (on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey) |
||||||||||||||||
| 27.5 | 30.5 | 34.8 | 36.4 | 34.8 | 28.5 | 21.9 | 23.0 | 20.0 | 19.5 | 18.1 | 15.7 | 10.8 | 8.8 | 6.0 | Decreased 1991—2019 Increased 1991—1997 Decreased 1997—2019 |
Decreased |
| Current frequent cigarette use (on 20 or more days during the 30 days before the survey) |
||||||||||||||||
| 12.7 | 13.8 | 16.1 | 16.7 | 16.8 | 13.8 | 9.7 | 9.4 | 8.1 | 7.3 | 6.4 | 5.6 | 3.4 | 2.6 | 1.3 | Decreased 1991—2019 Increased 1991—1999 Decreased 1999—2019 |
Decreased |
| Current daily cigarette use (on all 30 days during the 30 days before the survey) |
||||||||||||||||
| 9.8 | 10.0 | 12.2 | 12.2 | 12.8 | 10.3 | 7.6 | 7.2 | 6.1 | 5.3 | 4.8 | 4.0 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.1 | Decreased 1991—2019 Increased 1991—1999 Decreased 1999—2019 |
Decreased |
| Current cigar use (cigars, cigarillos, or little cigars on at least 1 day during the 30 days before the survey) |
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| —3 | — | — | 22.0 | 17.7 | 15.2 | 14.8 | 14.0 | 13.6 | 14.0 | 13.1 | 12.6 | 10.3 | 8.0 | 5.7 | Decreased 1997—2019 Decreased 1997—2013 Decreased 2013—2019 |
Decreased |
| Current electronic vapor product use (on at least one day during the 30 days before the survey) |
||||||||||||||||
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 24.1 | 13.2 | 32.7 | Increased 2015—2019 | Increased |
| Current frequent electronic vapor product use (on 20 or more days during the 30 days before the survey) |
||||||||||||||||
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 3.0 | 3.3 | 10.7 | Increased 2015—2019 | Increased |
| Current daily electronic vapor product use (on all 30 days during the 30 days before the survey) |
||||||||||||||||
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2.0 | 2.4 | 7.2 | Increased 2015—2019 | Increased |
| Current cigarette or electronic vapor product use (on at least one day during the 30 days before the survey) |
||||||||||||||||
| — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27.8 | 16.9 | 34.4 | Increased 2015—2019 | Increased |
- Based on linear and quadratic trend analyses using logistic regression models controlling for sex, race/ethnicity, and grade, p < 0.05. Significant linear trends (if present) across all available years are described first followed by linear changes in each segment of significant quadratic trends (if present).
- Based on t-test analysis, p < 0.05.
- Not available.
Page last reviewed: August 20, 2020