Florida Fact Sheet: Smoking Down, Vaping Up – and Youth Use at Record Lows

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Florida continues to make steady progress in reducing cigarette smoking among adults while seeing growth in the use of lower-risk alternatives like e-cigarettes. According to new data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 1.9 million adults (10.5 percent) in Florida were current smokers in 2023 – 7.1 percent decrease from 2022. During the same period, 1.4 million adults (7.6 percent) reported vaping, a 24.6 percent increase year-over-year.

This ongoing shift from smoking to vaping reflects a broader trend across the state and the nation. Since 2016, adult smoking in Florida has dropped 32.3 percent, while adult vaping has surged 61.7 percent. Among adults aged 25–44, vaping rates more than doubled – rising from 6.1 percent to 12.3 percent.

Nationally, the picture is similar. The CDC reports that the number of U.S. adult smokers fell to 31.7 million (12.1 percent) in 2023, down nearly four million from 2022. At the same time, 20.3 million adults are now vaping, reflecting a steady nationwide increase and continued movement toward less harmful nicotine products.

Youth trends in Florida also tell a positive story. The 2024 Florida Youth Survey shows sharp declines in both vaping and smoking among middle and high school students. Since peaking in 2019, youth e-cigarette use has dropped by nearly 45 percent, and cigarette smoking among Florida teens has fallen by an astounding 87.8 percent since 2010. Current cigarette smoking among high schoolers is now just 1.6 percent.

Importantly, data from both the CDC and state surveys show that flavors are not the main reason youth vape – contrary to common legislative claims. Anxiety, stress, and curiosity remain the leading factors, with flavors cited by fewer than 5 percent of youth across multiple state surveys. For adults, however, flavors are a vital component of quitting smoking. Studies show that adults who use non-tobacco flavors are more likely to successfully transition away from cigarettes.

With adult smoking rates falling, youth use at historic lows, and mounting evidence that flavored alternatives support cessation, Florida policymakers should focus on maintaining access to effective harm reduction tools rather than restricting them.

Read the full Fact Sheet:

Florida Tobacco and Vape Fact Sheet.pdf

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Nothing in this analysis is intended to influence the passage of legislation, and it does not necessarily represent the views of Tobacco Harm Reduction 101