Tobacco Use Among New Mexico High School Students At All-Time Low

NMDOH News:

The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) reports that rates of cigarette smoking by New Mexico high school students are lower than ever before – dropping by more than 50 percent over the last decade.

According to data from the 2017 New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey (YRRS), youth cigarette smoking has dropped from 24.2 percent in 2007 to nearly one in 10 (10.6 percent) New Mexico high school students in 2017.

Usage rates for other tobacco products including cigars, chew/spit tobacco, and hookah (a large water pipe used to smoke tobacco) have also fallen to historic lows.

“It’s great news that New Mexico youth are smoking fewer cigarettes and that rates for most tobacco products continue to see significant declines,” said Department of Health Cabinet Secretary Lynn Gallagher. “At NMDOH, it’s one of our priorities to educate our youth about the risks and dangers of tobacco – that can go a long way toward making cigarettes uncool and out of fashion.”

NMDOH continues to work towards further decreasing rates of smoking and other tobacco use among youth, which includes addressing the growing trend of the use of e-cigarettes and other electronic vapor products.

People who stop smoking can greatly reduce their risk for disease and premature death as well as help protect children, family, friends and pets from exposure to secondhand smoke that can cause immediate harm to those who breathe it.

For support in quitting smoking and other tobacco use, New Mexicans can call 1.800.QUIT.NOW (1.800.784.8669) or 1.855.DEJELO.YA (1.855.335.3569) or visit quitnownm.com and dejeloyanm.com.

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