According to the Arizona Youth Survey (AYS), by 2022, only 3.7% of 8th graders, 6.2% of 10th graders and 9.4% of 12th graders have reported having tried combustible cigarettes. Since 2016, usage has dropped 73.4% for 8th graders, 70.5% for 10th graders and 69.8% for 12th graders.

Current cigarette use, defined as smoking at least one cigarette in the 30 days preceding the survey, also declined. By 2022, only 1% of 8th graders, 1.6% of 10th graders and 2.5% of 12th graders reported current combustible cigarette use. Similar to previous use, since 2016, current cigarette use has dropped by 77.8% for 8th graders, 77.1% for 10th graders and 79.8% for 12th graders.

With the introduction of new tobacco harm reduction products, including e-cigarettes, many policymakers have focused their attention on youth e-cigarette use.

According to AYS, youth e-cigarette use peaked in 2018 and has steadily declined in subsequent years.

In 2022, among 8th graders, 13.6% reported ever using e-cigarettes and 6.3% reported current use. Since 2018, past usage is down 50.9% and current usage is down 53%. Among 10th graders, in 2022, 20.6% reported ever using e-cigarettes and 10.3% reported current use. Since 2018, the number of former and current vaping 10th graders has dropped by 47.6% and 51.6%, respectively.

Likewise, among 2022 grade 12 students, 27% reported having tried e-cigarettes and 14.8% reported current e-cigarette use. Among 12th graders, past and current e-cigarette use has declined by 41.1% and 43.3%, respectively, since 2018.

As policymakers introduce legislation aimed at tackling teen vaping, they must understand that both teen smoking and vaping rates have fallen significantly.

In recent years, local lawmakers in Phoenix and Tempe have reviewed policies banning the sale of flavored tobacco and vaping products. While addressing teen use of any age-restricted product is laudable, these policies ignore the decline in teen vaping product use.

In addition, national survey data suggest that flavor is not the main reason teens use e-cigarettes. For example, according to the data of the National Youth Tobacco Survey, among middle and high school students who have tried e-cigarettes, 57.8% said it was because of friends, 47.6% said it was because of curiosity, and 25.1% mentioned that trying e-cigarettes was because of their curiosity. Only 13.5% mentioned trying e-cigarettes because of taste because they felt anxious, stressed or depressed. Additionally, among current e-cigarette users, 43.4% said they used them because of feelings of anxiety, stress and/or depression, 28.3% said they used them because of a friend, and only 13.2% had used an e-cigarette , as they come in flavors such as menthol, mint, candy, fruit or chocolate.

Before introducing legislation, lawmakers should be aware of the latest data showing rates of youth tobacco and vaping products at the lowest levels on record. Therefore, policymakers must avoid policies that limit adults' access to combustible cigarette alternatives.

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