Teen Tobacco Use

Teen tobacco/nicotine use in King County has declined in recent years

In 2025, 6.2% of King County teens in grades 8, 10 and 12 had used tobacco/nicotine in the last 30 days.

  • Trends: Between 2012-2025, the percentage of teens in grades 8, 10, and 12 in King County who used tobacco/nicotine peaked at 18.3% in 2018 and has declined to 6.2% in 2025. 

  • Race and ethnicity: American Indian and Alaska Native students had the highest rate of tobacco/nicotine use at 13.1%. Asian teens (4.1%) were less likely than other race/ethnicity groups to use tobacco/nicotine. 

  • Grade level: Tobacco/nicotine use increased with grade level, from 3.7% among 8th graders, 5.3% among 10th graders and up to 8.9% among 12th graders. 

  • Sexual orientation: Lesbian, gay or bisexual teens had higher rates of tobacco/nicotine use (9.3%) than heterosexual (5.6%) teens.    

  • Region: Teens in Seattle (11.2%) were more likely to have used tobacco/nicotine recently than teens in the North (6.2%), East (4.8%), and South (5.2%) regions of King County.    

 

Notes & Sources

Source: Healthy Youth Survey.

To learn more about the Healthy Youth Survey and view the data biography, click here. 

Further resources on tobacco/nicotine use:  

King County Cannabis, Commercial Tobacco, and Vaping Prevention Program (CCTV) resources to support young people: https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/dph/health-safety/safety-injury-prevention/cannabis-tobacco-vapor/resources-for-young-people  

In 2023, the Washington State Department of Health (DOH) launched the statewide vaping and commercial tobacco prevention campaign, Choose You, to educate youth about the risks of using vapes and spotlight quitting resources available: https://chooseyouwa.org/ 

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