New Reports Highlight Progress in Youth Tobacco Fight | Oklahoma Youth Vaping Remains a Challenge

OKLAHOMA CITY (Nov. 7, 2024) — Oklahoma has made big strides in helping young people quit smoking cigarettes, following a positive trend across the country. According to the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey, fewer than 2% of high school students nationwide are smoking cigarettes. In Oklahoma, youth smoking rates have dropped to 4.3%—a 77% decrease since 2013, based on data from the Oklahoma Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS). The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) credits this progress to prevention programs, support that helps teens live healthier, tobacco-free lives, and increased emphasis on laws that prevent youth from buying tobacco products.

While fewer teens are smoking cigarettes, vaping remains a serious problem. In Oklahoma, nearly 22% of high school students use e-cigarettes—more than twice the national average, according to the latest YRBS data.

“While it’s encouraging to see fewer youth smoking cigarettes, the high rate of vaping among Oklahoma teens remains a major concern,” said Julie Bisbee, TSET’s executive director. “We know prevention and support work, and the TSET Healthy Youth Initiative is here to help teens break free from nicotine and choose a healthier path.”

TSET offers several free resources to help teens quit tobacco and stay healthy:

• Quit the Hit: This program provides group support on Instagram for teens and young adults ages 13–24. Over five weeks, participants join daily conversations, get tips from a coach, and connect with others who are also trying to quit.
• My Life, My Quit: Funded by TSET, this program offers one-on-one support for teens ages 13–17 who want to quit nicotine. Teens can connect with a coach through text, web chat, or phone calls to get help every step of the way.
• Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline: The Helpline is a free resource for all Oklahomans to quit and reduce the influence of tobacco on young people. Teens ages 13 and older can also receive coaching support from the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline.

The drop in youth smoking is good news, and the fight to end vaping and other tobacco use continues. TSET programs and services give teens and adults in Oklahoma the tools to stay tobacco-free and live healthier lives.

For more information on TSET’s programs and resources for teens, educators, and healthcare providers, visit TSETHealthyYouth.com.

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The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working with local coalitions and initiatives across the state, cultivating innovative and life-changing research, and working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement, and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public’s health. To learn more, go to Oklahoma.gov/TSET.

The TSET Healthy Youth Initiative empowers Oklahoma youth to improve health outcomes for themselves and future generations. The initiative includes statewide public health education messaging, a youth-led advocacy program, and character-building to reduce tobacco use and obesity. The initiative also gives parents resources to support their children in maintaining or developing healthy habits for a lifetime. Visit TSETHealthyYouth.com to learn more.

The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is a free service for Oklahomans wanting to help themselves, loved ones, patients, or employees live tobacco-free. Funding is primarily provided by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, in partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline has had more than half a million registrations since 2003 and has been ranked among the top quitlines for reaching tobacco users seeking treatment for the last 10 years by the North American Quitline Consortium. To learn more, go to OKHelpline.com.

TSET – Better Lives Through Better Health