Utah’s Youth Are Quitting Tobacco—Now Let Adults Do the Same

Lindsey Stroud

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released the 2023 results of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), a biennial survey conducted by the CDC in coordination with the Utah Department of Health and Human Services. The YRBS monitors various youth behaviors, including diet, physical activity, mental health, and substance use.

There is encouraging news for policymakers: despite prevailing rhetoric, the introduction of e-cigarettes has not normalized smoking. Youth use of combustible cigarettes is at record lows in the Beehive State, and e-cigarette use has declined significantly since peaking in 2019. Use of other substances, including alcohol and marijuana, remains relatively stable but has declined in recent years.

According to the 2023 YRBS, only 9.5 percent of Utah high school students reported ever trying a combustible cigarette, and just 1.1 percent were current smokers—defined as use on at least one occasion in the past 30 days. Even better, 0 percent reported frequent (20 or more days) or daily cigarette use.

These are historic lows. Between 2003 and 2023, ever-use of cigarettes declined by 71 percent, and current use dropped by 84.9 percent. Frequent and daily use saw 100 percent reductions over the same period.

Policymakers have expressed concern about youth vaping, but similar to national trends, Utah saw e-cigarette use peak in 2019: 30.5 percent of high school students had ever tried an e-cigarette, 9.7 percent were current users, 3.3 percent were frequent users, and 2.4 percent used e-cigarettes daily.

Between 2019 and 2023, ever-use of e-cigarettes fell by 35.7 percent to 19.6 percent, current use dropped by 41.2 percent to 5.7 percent, frequent use declined by 57.6 percent to 1.4 percent, and daily use was cut in half to 1.2 percent.

Utah youth also report using other age-restricted or illegal products. In 2023, 6.4 percent of students were currently using alcohol—11.6 percent higher than current e-cigarette use and 141.3 percent higher than current cigarette use. Additionally, 1 percent reported binge drinking, defined as four or more drinks in a row for females or five or more for males.

Marijuana use persists as well: 11.7 percent of students had ever tried cannabis in 2023, and 4.2 percent were current users.

Policymakers should celebrate these historic declines in youth tobacco and vaping product use—and avoid enacting policies that restrict adult access to tobacco harm reduction tools. In 2023, 6 percent of Utah adults aged 18 or older were smoking, while 6.7 percent were using e-cigarettes. As cigarette use continues to decline among adults, e-cigarette use is rising, with many using these less harmful alternatives to quit smoking and remain smoke-free.

Utah should embrace tobacco harm reduction, not undermine it with policies that could drive adults back to combustible cigarettes.