The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has released the results of the 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). This biennial survey tracks various risk behaviors among high school students in the Granite State, including dietary habits, physical activity, mental health, and substance use. The findings are encouraging, with combustible cigarette use at record lows and a significant decrease in youth vaping since its peak in 2019.
In 2023, 14.8% of New Hampshire high school students reported having ever used a combustible cigarette, while 3.9% reported current use, defined as using the product at least once in the past 30 days. These figures are among the lowest recorded, with current use of combustible cigarettes declining by 50% from 2017 to 2023.
Amid concerns amplified by media coverage, lawmakers have honed in on e-cigarette use among youth. Although the use of e-cigarettes in New Hampshire saw a slight increase between 2021 and 2023, it remains significantly lower than its 2019 peak.
In 2023, just under one-third (32.6%) of New Hampshire high school students had tried a vapor product, while 16.7% reported current use. Between 2021 and 2023, ever-use of e-cigarettes rose by 5.2%, while current use increased by 3.1%. Nevertheless, the 2023 rates are considerably lower than in 2019, when nearly half (49.8%) of students had tried an e-cigarette, and a little more than one-third (33.8%) reported current use. Between 2019 and 2023, ever-use dropped by 34.5%, while current use declined by 50.6%. Interestingly, the 2023 rates of e-cigarette use are also significantly lower than those in 2017, with ever-use down by 20.7% and current use by 29.8%.
Despite ongoing alarmism, e-cigarettes serve as a tobacco harm reduction tool that has helped millions of U.S. adults quit smoking and stay smoke-free. In 2022, an estimated 76,961 New Hampshire adults (aged 18 years or older) were currently using e-cigarettes, many of whom were formerly smoking. Restrictive policies on e-cigarettes could inadvertently lead adults back to smoking.
The 2023 YRBS results are promising and should be acknowledged by policymakers as they continue efforts to reduce adult smoking and monitor youth use of age-restricted tobacco and vapor products.
Lindsey Stroud is a Visiting Fellow at Independent Women’s Forum, a Senior Fellow at the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, and a board member with the American Vapor Manufacturers Association.