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Governor Eric J. Holcomb
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Substance use prevention: tobacco

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S. and amounts to $170 billion in direct medical costs each year (CDC, 2017 https://www.cdc.gov/statesystem/cigaretteuseadult.html).

Smoking in Indiana:

  • 21.8% of adults in Indiana currently smoke cigarettes, compared to 14% of adults in the U.S.
  • Indiana ranks 7th among the 50 states and Washington D.C. for rates of smoking by adults.
  • 11,100 adults die from smoking-related illnesses each year

The Indiana State Department of Health Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Commission conducts the biennial Indiana Youth Tobacco Survey to measure tobacco use among middle and high school students.

2018 survey results:

  • More than 1 in 5 Indiana high school students and nearly 1 in 10 middle school students reported current use of any tobacco product.
  • Use of e-cigarettes was reported by 18.5% of Indiana high school students.
  • Use of JUUL e-cigarettes was reported by 24.2% of Indiana high school students.

Health risks

  • E-cigarettes and youth
    • E-cigarettes/JUUL/vaping products contain nicotine, which is an addictive chemical.
    • Nicotine can cause negative effects on the still-developing brains of youth and young adults.
    • Exposure to nicotine increases a youth’s likelihood of developing addictions later in life.
    • See the Surgeon General’s page on e-cigarettes and young people
  • Smoking (traditional tobacco and cigars)
    • Smoking is still the leading preventable cause of death in the United States
    • Estimates show smoking increases the risk:
      • For coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times
      • For stroke by 2 to 4 times
      • Of men developing lung cancer by 25 times
      • Of women developing lung cancer by 25.7 times
    • Risks from smoking visual representation
  • Smokeless tobacco (chew, snus, dissolvable)
    • Nicotine addiction
    • Cancer (mouth, throat, cheek, gums, lips, esophagus and pancreas are more likely)
    • Precancerous mouth lesions
    • Heart disease
    • Dental disease
    • Pregnancy risks
    • Learn more about smokeless tobacco
  • Tobacco use among adults with mental illness and substance use disorders
    • Adults with mental illness are 70% more likely to smoke than adults with no mental illness
    • Patients with psychiatric disorders are far more likely to die from tobacco-related diseases than from mental illness
    • People with mental illness or substance use disorders die about five years earlier than those without these disorders
    • Tobacco smoke can interact with and inhibit the effectiveness of certain medication taken by mental health and substance abuse patients
    • For more information on how tobacco affects those with mental illness and substance use disorders, visit Rethink Tobacco Indiana or the CDC

Vaping / JUUL / e-cigarettes

The Indiana State Department of Health has created a new website with resources for youth, parents, educators and health care professionals. You can access free information, fact sheets, tobacco-free curriculums and toolkits and more.

Parent / teacher questions

These may look like simple USB drives that your teen probably uses on a regular basis but you might want to look again. The images above are actually e-cigarettes. The JUUL device is one of the most popular among teens across the country. These devices contain a high concentration of nicotine. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance and can harm adolescent brain development. The greater concern is that a majority of youth e-cigarette users think that the last time they used a product they only vaped flavoring. Check out the Indiana State Department of Health Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Commission’s page with more resources.