29501281

PMC5964035

Purpose

To describe U.S. youth harm perceptions of intermittent tobacco use.

Methods

Using data from the 2016 National Youth Tobacco Survey of U.S. students in grades 6–12 (n=20,575), we examined prevalence and correlates of harm perceptions of tobacco product use on “some days but not every day” for four tobacco products. Associations between current (past 30-day) use and harm perceptions were assessed using multivariable regression.

Results

Perceiving that intermittent use causes ‘no’ or ‘little’ harm was 9.7% for cigarettes, 12.0% for smokeless tobacco, 18.7% for hookah, and 37.5% for e-cigarettes. Perceptions were associated with past 30-day use, and more than half of past 30-day non-cigarette users perceived intermittent use as causing ‘little’ or ‘no’ harm.

Conclusions

One in ten youth perceived intermittent cigarette smoking as causing ‘no’ or ‘little’ harm; this perception was higher among current users. Efforts are warranted to educate youth about the risks of tobacco product use.

CDC Public Access

CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States