Research ArticleORIGINAL RESEARCH
Open Access

Trends in Cigarette Smoking Among United States Adolescents

Maria C. Mejia, Adedamola Adele, Robert S. Levine, Charles H. Hennekens and Panagiota Kitsantas
Ochsner Journal December 2023, 23 (4) 289-295; DOI: https://doi.org/10.31486/toj.23.0113

Article Figures & Data

Figures

Tables

  • Table 1.

    Cigarette Use Among United States Adolescents, 1991 vs 2021

    Cigarette Use by Year, % (95% CI)a
    Cigarette Usage Category19912021
    Ever70.1 (67.8-72.3)17.8 (15.9-19.9)
    Occasional27.5 (24.8-30.3)3.8 (3.3-4.4)
    Frequent12.7 (10.6-15.3)0.7 (0.6-1.0)
    Daily9.8 (7.8-12.2)0.6 (0.4-0.8)

    • ↵aStatistically significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in cigarette use between 1991 and 2021 across all categories of cigarette use.

    • Note: Ever is defined as taking even 1 or 2 puffs; occasional is defined as smoking on at least 1 day during the 30 days before completing the Youth Risk Behavior Survey; frequent is defined as smoking on 20 or more days during the 30 days before the survey; and daily is defined as smoking on all 30 days during the 30 days before the survey.

  • Table 2.

    Cigarette Use Among United States Adolescents by Sex, 1991 vs 2021

    Cigarette Use by Year, % (95% CI)a
    Cigarette Usage CategorySex19912021
    EverBoys70.6 (68.6-72.6)17.8 (16.0-19.8)
    Girls69.5 (66.4-72.5)17.7 (15.2-20.4)
    Overall70.1 (67.8-72.3)17.8 (15.9-19.9)
    OccasionalBoys27.6 (24.6-30.9)3.9 (3.1-4.9)
    Girls27.3 (23.9-31.0)3.7 (3.2-4.4)
    Overall27.5 (24.8-30.3)3.8 (3.3-4.4)
    FrequentBoys13.0 (11.2-15.1)0.9 (0.7-1.4)
    Girls12.4 (9.8-15.7)0.4 (0.3-0.8)
    Overall12.7 (10.6-15.3)0.7 (0.6-1.0)
    DailyBoys10.5 (8.6-12.6)0.8 (0.6-1.0)
    Girls9.1 (6.8-11.9)0.3 (0.2-0.6)
    Overall9.8 (7.8-12.2)0.6 (0.4-0.8)

    • ↵aStatistically significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in cigarette use between 1991 and 2021 for boys and girls.

    • Note: Ever is defined as taking even 1 or 2 puffs; occasional is defined as smoking on at least 1 day during the 30 days before completing the Youth Risk Behavior Survey; frequent is defined as smoking on 20 or more days during the 30 days before the survey; and daily is defined as smoking on all 30 days during the 30 days before the survey.

  • Table 3.

    Cigarette Use Among United States Adolescents by Race/Ethnicity, 1991 vs 2021

    Cigarette Use by Year, % (95% CI)a
    Cigarette Usage CategoryRace/Ethnicity19912021
    EverBlack67.2 (63.8-70.5)11.5 (8.9-14.6)
    Asian55.4 (49.9-60.9)7.1 (4.2-11.7)
    Hispanic/Latino75.3 (73.6-76.9)19.4 (16.6-22.5)
    White70.4 (67.6-73.1)19.4 (17.6-21.4)
    Overall70.1 (67.8-72.3)17.8 (15.9-19.9)
    OccasionalBlack12.6 (10.2-15.5)1.7 (1.1-2.8)
    Asian14.6 (10.5-20.0)0.6 (0.2-1.9)
    Hispanic/Latino25.3 (22.5-28.2)3.1 (2.4-3.9)
    White30.9 (27.6-34.5)4.8 (4.0-5.7)
    Overall27.5 (24.8-30.3)3.8 (3.3-4.4)
    FrequentBlack3.1 (2.2-4.5)0.5 (0.2-1.2)
    Asian6.6 (4.0-10.6)0.3 (0.1-1.3)
    Hispanic/Latino6.8 (5.4-8.5)0.8 (0.5-1.2)
    White15.4 (12.8-18.5)0.8 (0.5-1.2)
    Overall12.7 (10.6-15.3)0.7 (0.6-1.0)
    DailyBlack2.5 (1.7-3.7)0.5 (0.2-1.2)
    Asian4.2 (1.9-9.1)0.3 (0.1-1.3)
    Hispanic/Latino4.0 (3.1-5.1)0.6 (0.3-1.2)
    White12.2 (9.6-15.3)0.6 (0.4-0.9)
    Overall9.8 (7.8-12.2)0.6 (0.4-0.8)

    • ↵aStatistically significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in cigarette use between 1991 and 2021 across all racial/ethnic groups.

    • Note: Ever is defined as taking even 1 or 2 puffs; occasional is defined as smoking on at least 1 day during the 30 days before completing the Youth Risk Behavior Survey; frequent is defined as smoking on 20 or more days during the 30 days before the survey; and daily is defined as smoking on all 30 days during the 30 days before the survey.

  • Table 4.

    Cigarette Use Among United States Adolescents by High School Grade, 1991 vs 2021

    Cigarette Use by Year, % (95% CI)a
    Cigarette Usage CategoryHigh School Grade19912021
    Ever964.8 (61.6-67.9)13.9 (11.6-16.6)
    1068.3 (64.8-71.6)16.4 (13.9-19.2)
    1172.8 (69.3-76.0)18.3 (16.1-20.7)
    1274.5 (71.2-77.6)22.7 (19.7-26.0)
    Overall70.1 (67.8-72.3)17.8 (15.9-19.9)
    Occasional923.2 (19.5-27.4)2.2 (1.6-3.0)
    1025.2 (22.5-28.1)3.8 (3.0-4.8)
    1131.6 (27.8-35.7)4.1 (3.4-5.0)
    1230.1 (25.7-34.8)5.2 (4.4-6.2)
    Overall27.5 (24.8-30.3)3.8 (3.3-4.4)
    Frequent98.4 (6.2-11.3)0.4 (0.2-0.8)
    1011.3 (9.0-14.1)0.6 (0.3-1.3)
    1115.6 (12.9-18.8)0.8 (0.4-1.4)
    1215.6 (12.4-19.4)1.0 (0.7-1.5)
    Overall12.7 (10.6-15.3)0.7 (0.6-1.0)
    Daily96.4 (4.6-8.7)0.3 (0.1-0.7)
    108.8 (6.5-11.8)0.4 (0.2-0.9)
    1112.2 (9.7-15.2)0.6 (0.3-1.0)
    1212.2 (9.7-15.2)0.9 (0.6-1.3)
    Overall9.8 (7.8-12.2)0.6 (0.4-0.8)

    • ↵aStatistically significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in cigarette use between 1991 and 2021 across all high school grades.

    • Note: Ever is defined as taking even 1 or 2 puffs; occasional is defined as smoking on at least 1 day during the 30 days before completing the Youth Risk Behavior Survey; frequent is defined as smoking on 20 or more days during the 30 days before the survey; and daily is defined as smoking on all 30 days during the 30 days before the survey.

Back to top

In this issue

Print
Download PDF
Email Article
Citation Tools

Jump to section

Keywords