Latest Survey Data Show Declines in Rhode Island Youth Tobacco and Vapor Product Use 

The Rhode Island Department of Health has released findings from the state’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). This biennial survey assesses behaviors among middle and high school students in areas ranging from diet and fitness to mental health and substance use. The 2023 survey results provide encouraging news: the use of cigarettes among youth remains low, and there has been a substantial reduction in vaping since its peak in 2019.

In 2023, 3.3% of Rhode Island middle school students reported having tried a combustible cigarette, with 1% reporting current use—defined as using the product at least once in the 30 days preceding the survey. From 2019 to 2023, the ever-use of cigarettes dropped by 37.7%, and current use decreased by 37.5%.

For other tobacco products in 2023, 1.4% of middle school students reported current use of smokeless tobacco products (including snus), and 1.1% reported current cigar use. Reductions were also seen here, with current smokeless tobacco use decreasing by 6.7% and current cigar use by 8.4% between 2019 and 2023.

E-cigarette use, which has garnered increasing attention, saw 11.3% of middle school students report trying them in 2023, and 6.7% currently vaping. While ever-use of e-cigarettes fell by 31.1% from 2019 to 2023, current use rose by 3.1%.

High school students similarly reported low usage of traditional tobacco products, with significant declines in vaping. In 2023, 11.9% of high school students had tried smoking a cigarette, with 3.1% currently smoking. Ever-use of cigarettes fell by 32% and current use by 26.2% from 2019 to 2023. Additionally, 2.8% of high school students reported current use of smokeless tobacco, while 4% were using cigars. Notably, current cigar use declined by 21.6%, although smokeless tobacco use increased by 12% between 2019 and 2023.

Vapor product use among high school students has also seen a significant decrease. In 2023, 32.4% of students had ever used an e-cigarette, with 16.5% reporting current use. Since 2019, ever-use and current use of e-cigarettes have declined by 33.7% and 45.2%, respectively.

Since 2017, the high school YRBS has explored reasons behind e-cigarette use. The 2023 data reveal that the main reason for using e-cigarettes was curiosity (32.9% of students), followed by feeling “anxious, stressed, and/or depressed” (20.4%), and because of friends or family members (17.4%). Only 3.7% reported flavors as a reason, a number that has decreased by 79.7% since 2017.

Given these trends, Rhode Island lawmakers might reconsider the state’s ban on flavored e-cigarette products. The data suggest that flavors are not the main driver for youth e-cigarette use, casting doubt on the effectiveness of this policy in recent declines among students. Furthermore, there is no evidence that vapor product use is leading to increased tobacco use. Looking ahead, policymakers should focus on strategies to reduce adult smoking rates, which at 11.8% in 2022, are considerably higher than those among youth.

Lindsey Stroud is a Visiting Fellow at Independent Womens Forum, a Senior Fellow at the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, and a board member with the American Vapor Manufacturers Association.