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Youth

Vermont Attorney General Supports Continuation of National Youth Tobacco Survey

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark has joined a bipartisan coalition of 22 states in submitting a comment letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in support of continuing 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 insights into youth tobacco use and emerging products. The coalition's letter highlights the importance of NYTS data in shaping efforts to curb youth tobacco use, which have been led by Attorneys General for over two decades.

Key Takeaways:

  • The National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) is an annual study that assesses the use of smoking and vaping among middle and high school students.
  • The NYTS provides valuable insights into youth tobacco use and emerging products, shaping efforts to curb youth tobacco use led by Attorneys General for over two decades.
  • The bipartisan coalition of 22 states, including Vermont, submitted a comment letter to the CDC and HHS in support of continuing the NYTS.
  • The NYTS relies heavily on data from youth tobacco use, product trends, prevalence rates, knowledge and attitudes about tobacco use, access to tobacco products, and risk factors influencing initiation and continued use.
  • The survey provides comprehensive data for younger students who are not included in other national surveys, enabling Attorneys General to focus their resources on the most effective policies and enforcement measures to address the constantly evolving retail market.
  • The NYTS data has been crucial in alerting the states to emerging tobacco products and was the first national indicator of the youth e-cigarette epidemic.
  • The Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) has generated over $171 billion in ongoing payments from tobacco companies to the states.
  • The Attorneys General have undertaken several initiatives to limit youth exposure to tobacco and nicotine products.

Statistics:

  • 52 state and territorial Attorneys General entered into a settlement with the four largest tobacco companies in 1998.
  • The Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) has generated over $171 billion in ongoing payments from tobacco companies to the states.
  • 22 states, including Vermont, submitted a comment letter to the CDC and HHS in support of continuing the NYTS.

Sources:

  • The office of the Vermont Attorney General
  • [1] Vermont Attorney General's Office. [Public comment letter to the CDC and HHS supporting continuation of the NYTS].
  • [2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). [Invitation for public comment on continuation of the NYTS].

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