CVS releases data on Gen Z/young adults' use of nicotine products

With the rise of nicotine pouches and popularity of e-cigarettes among the younger generations, there are growing concerns from parents around how these nicotine products are impacting their children’s health. 

To tackle this question, CVS released new data from a national survey that found that nearly nine out of every 10 U.S. Gen Z/young adults ages 18-28 think there is currently a teen nicotine use epidemic in the United States and 85% of US Gen Z believe teens who use nicotine are more likely to experience anxiety or depression.

[Related: Smoked out: Smoking cessation products on the rise]

Key survey findings:

• Gen Z/young adults say they believe smoking/vaping/nicotine use is the number one factor damaging to teen health today.
• Four in five (80%) U.S. Gen Z/Young adults ages 18-28 say that smoking/vaping/nicotine use is the most damaging to teen health today, followed closely by mental health struggles (77%) and social media addiction/excessive screen time (74%).
• Teens believe that mental health struggles and easy access to nicotine products are some of the challenges preventing them from quitting nicotine.
• According to US Gen Z/Young adults ages 18-28, the biggest challenges teens face when trying to quit using nicotine are stress, anxiety or mental health struggles (67%), nicotine addiction and withdrawal symptoms (66%) and lack of motivation or desire (58%).
• 49% of US Gen Z/Young Adults ages 18-28 think that easy access to purchase nicotine products is a challenge teens face when trying to quit using nicotine, and 70% of that same group believe that fewer stores selling nicotine products would make a difference in reducing teen use.