Use of tobacco and nicotine products among adolescents
The use of nicotine products, such as nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes, has increased among adolescents.
The Health Behaviour in School-aged Children
The Public Health Agency of Sweden monitors the use of cigarettes, snus and e-cigarettes among adolescents in the international survey Health Behaviour in School-aged Children, conducted every four years.
Results from the latest survey 2021/2022 show the following:
- Approximately 2 per cent of 11-year-olds reported having tried smoking cigarettes at some point in their lives. The proportion increases with age. Among 13-year-olds 11 per cent of girls and 10 per cent of boys have tried smoking cigarettes and among 15 year-olds students the proportions were 26 and 21 per cent, respectively.
- The proportion of adolescents having used snus has increased. Among 13-year-olds 9 per cent of girls and 13 per cent of boys used snus and the proportions among 15-year-olds were 27 and 31 per cent, respectively. The largest increase was seen among 15 year old girls, from 7 to 27 per cent. Many students reported using nicotine pouches or that they don´t know what type of snus they use.
- Among 13-year-olds, 18 per cent of girls and 15 per cent of boys reported having used e-cigarettes. E-cigarette use is more common among 15-year-olds (34 and 29 per cent, respectively). Among 15 year old girls, e-cigarette use has increased since the survey 2017/2018. It is more common among adolescents to have used e-cigarettes with nicotine than without or that they don´t know if they have used e-cigarettes with or without nicotine.
Skolbarns hälsovanor (in Swedish)
Skolbarns hälsovanor i Sverige 2021/2022 – Nationella resultat (in Swedish)
CAN’s national school survey
The Swedish Council for Information on Alcohol and Other Drugs’ (CAN) national school survey is a yearly survey examining experiences of alchohol, narcotics, doping, tobacco and gambling among year nine pupils and students in year two of upper secondary school.
CAN:s nationella skolundersökning (can.se) (in Swedish)
Cigarette smoking
In 2023, approximately 9 per cent of year nine pupils (figure 1) and 21 per cent of students in year two of upper secondary school (figure 2) reported smoking cigarettes. The proportion has decreased in both grades until 2021. Among students in year two of upper secondary school there is an increase in cigarette smoking since 2021.
Figure 1. Girls and boys in year nine who smoke cigarettes (daily/almost daily or sporadically) during the period 2012–2023 (percentage).
Source: CAN’s national school survey.
Figure 2. Girls and boys in year two of upper secondary school who smoke cigarettes (daily/almost daily or sporadically) during the period 2012–2023 (percentage).
Source: CAN’s national school survey.
Snus use
In 2023, approximately 14 per cent of year nine pupils (figure 3) and 26 per cent of students in year two of upper secondary school (figure 4) reported using snus. Snus use has increased in recent years and especially among girls.
Figure 3. Girls and boys in year nine who use snus (daily/almost daily or sporadically) during the period 2012–2023 (percentage).
Source: CAN’s national school survey.
Figur 4. Girls and boys in year two of upper secondary school who use snus (daily/almost daily or sporadically) during the period 2012–2023 (percentage).
Source: CAN’s national school survey.
Nicotine pouches
The use of nicotine pouches has been monitored in the survey since 2021. The use of nicotine pouches has increased in recent years among both girls and boys and in both grades (figure 5). In 2023, approximately 28 per cent of pupils in year nine and 44 per cent of students in year two of upper secondary school reported having used nicotine pouches at some point.
Figure 5. Year nine pupils and students in year two of upper secondary school who have used nicotine pouches at some point during the period 2021–2023 (percentage).
Source: CAN’s national school survey.
How adolescents view snus and snus use, especially nicotine pouches
In 2021, the Public Health Agency conducted an interview study with 25 adolescents aged 13-19, to find out more about how adolescents view snus. The study addresses questions regarding exposure, use, flavouring and health risks with snus and especially nicotine pouches.
How does adolescents view snus?
E-cigarette use
The use of e-cigarettes has been monitored in the survey since 2014. The use of e-cigarettes has increased in recent years. In 2023 approximately 40 per cent of year nine pupils (figure 6) and 56 per cent of students in year two of upper secondary school (figure 7) reported having used e-cigarettes at some point.
Figure 6. Girls and boys in year nine who used e-cigarettes at some point during the period 2014–2023 (percentage).
Source: CAN’s national school survey.
Figure 7. Girls and boys in year two of upper secondary school who used e-cigarettes at some point during the period 2014–2023 (percentage).
Source: CAN’s national school survey.