Teens’ vaping and smoking surge 50% in one year, CDC reports

Young people are lighting up again after years of decline, reversing decades of progress in reducing smoking. A recent survey by the University of Michigan found that teen vaping of traditional cigarettes jumped 50 percent between 2022 and 2023. Public health officials say the trend is small but alarming, coming after tobacco use had fallen to historic lows.

This comeback follows years of aggressive anti-smoking campaigns, higher taxes, and bans on public smoking that pushed adult smoking rates below 12 percent in the U.S. The pandemic made things worse. Lockdowns increased stress and boredom, while social media—especially TikTok and Snapchat—normalized smoking as a lifestyle choice rather than a health risk. Influencers and viral trends like “smoking challenges” glamorize cigarettes without showing the long-term damage.

The numbers tell the story. About 2.5 million U.S. teens now use tobacco products, with 1 in 10 high school seniors reporting regular cigarette use, according to the CDC. Flavored vapes, once a major concern, are being replaced by menthol cigarettes and disposable e-cigarettes that mimic vaping styles. Tobacco companies, banned from TV ads decades ago, now spend millions on digital campaigns targeting young adults with sleek packaging and limited-edition flavors.

What happens next could determine whether decades of public health gains are lost. The FDA is considering stricter rules on menthol cigarettes, which disproportionately hook young smokers. Meanwhile, social media platforms are under pressure to remove pro-smoking content. Health advocates warn that if smoking becomes cool again, millions of young people could face addiction, lung disease, and early death. The comeback is just beginning—and the stakes are high.