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Youth

Bipartisan Coalition Supports Continuation of National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS)

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

A bipartisan coalition of 22 state attorneys general, led by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, has submitted a comment letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) supporting the continuation of the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS). The NYTS is an annual study that assesses the use of smoking and vaping among middle and high school students, providing valuable insight into youth tobacco use and emerging products. The survey has shaped efforts led by attorneys general to curb youth tobacco use for over two decades, with data informing policies and enforcement measures to address the evolving retail market.

Key Takeaways:

  • The National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) provides reliable and rigorous data on e-cigarette use among youth and teens, crucial for combating the public health epidemic of youth tobacco use.
  • The CDC intends to make revisions to the 2026-2028 NYTS but has yet to identify specific proposed changes, with the bipartisan coalition submitting the letter in response to a CDC invitation for public comment.
  • NYTS data is used to help attorneys general monitor youth smoking rates, as required by the national tobacco settlement, and provides a reliable, public source of youth tobacco use data.
  • The NYTS surveys students in both high school and middle school, providing unique data for younger students who are not included in other national surveys.
  • The bipartisan coalition has stressed the importance of NYTS data in alerting states to emerging tobacco products and informing effective policies and enforcement measures to address the constantly evolving retail market.
  • The Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) has generated over $171 billion in ongoing payments from tobacco companies to states, with the MSA requiring attorneys general and tobacco companies to meet every three years to coordinate efforts to reduce youth tobacco use.

Statistics:

  • The MSA has generated over $171 billion in ongoing payments from tobacco companies to states to date.
  • Youth e-cigarette use has led to a dramatic increase in youth exposure to tobacco and nicotine products.
  • In 2023, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul announced a $462 million multistate settlement with Juul Labs Inc. (Juul), one of the nation's largest manufacturers of e-cigarettes.

Sources:

  • Statement by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.
  • Comment letter submitted by a bipartisan coalition of 22 state attorneys general to the CDC and HHS on the continuation of the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS).
  • Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) between state attorneys general and the four largest tobacco companies in the United States.

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