Tobacco use among youth remains a significant public health concern in the USA. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2020, approximately 4.54 million middle and high school students in the USA reported current use of tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes).

The use of tobacco products, including cigarettes and e-cigarettes, can have serious health consequences for teens. Nicotine exposure during adolescence can harm brain development, affecting attention, learning, mood regulation, and impulse control. Additionally, youth who use tobacco products are more likely to become addicted to nicotine and continue using tobacco into adulthood, increasing their risk of developing tobacco-related diseases later in life.

While the immediate health effects of tobacco use among teens may not always lead to death in the short term, tobacco use during adolescence can significantly increase the risk of developing tobacco-related diseases later in life, such as lung cancer, heart disease, respiratory diseases, and other cancers. Therefore, addressing tobacco use among teens is critical for preventing future tobacco-related mortality and morbidity.

In addition to the direct health risks of tobacco use, exposure to secondhand smoke poses health risks for nonsmoking teens. Secondhand smoke contains thousands of chemicals, many of which are harmful and can cause respiratory problems, ear infections, and other health issues in children and adolescents.