Tobacco Product Harm Perceptions Among US Middle and High School Students, 2016-2020

Purpose: The aim of this study is to examine US youths' harm perceptions toward nondaily use of e-cigarettes, cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco, and hookahs.Methods: The nationally representative, cross-sectional National Youth Tobacco Survey annually assessed the following: How much do you think people harm themselves when they [use tobacco products] some days but not every day? Weighted estimates for 2020 were generated overall (grades 6-12) and by select demographics. Multivariable regression examined linear and quadratic changes during 2016-2020 (excluding cigars).Results: In 2020, the prevalence of middle and high school students reporting no or little harm (vs. some or a lot) was 20.1% for e-cigarettes, 17.4% for hookahs, 14.6% for cigars, 13.5% for smokeless tobacco, and 11.0% for cigarettes. During 2016-2020, perceptions of no or little harm decreased for e-cigarettes, increased for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, and exhibited nonlinear changes for hookahs.Discussion: Most youth are aware of tobacco product harms, but opportunities exist to educate youth about the harms of nondaily tobacco product use.Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine.

Automated summary

This study aimed to examine US youths' harm perceptions towards nondaily use of tobacco products such as e-cigarettes, cigarettes, etc. The results showed that a considerable proportion of middle and high school students in 2020 believed these products cause little to no harm. Over the past few years, perceptions of harm decreased for e-cigarettes, increased for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco.