Youth tobacco use in Indiana has reached a historic low, according to the 2024 Indiana Youth Tobacco Survey by the Indiana Department of Health.
Fewer than 1 percent of high school students reported currently smoking cigarettes — a drop from nearly 32 percent in 2000.
E-cigarette use is also at its lowest level since tracking began in 2012. It’s down to 5 percent from a peak of 18.5 percent in 2018.
Miranda Spitznagle, director of tobacco prevention and cessation at the Indiana Department of Health, credits long-term prevention efforts and school-based initiatives for the decline.
“We’ve had local tobacco control coalitions and partners statewide working on prevention for decades,” she said. “It’s really been a steadfast effort to engage communities and youth themselves in this work.”
Still, officials warn that flavored products and frequent vaping continue to drive nicotine dependence among teens.
“Nicotine use by any young person is harmful to the developing brain,” Spitznagle said. “Just because something is flavored or packaged a certain way doesn’t mean it’s safe to use.”
Free support programs like Live Vape Free and Quit Now Indiana offer help to youth and adults looking to quit, with Quit Now also providing medication in some cases.