Smoking rates decline, but nicotine use is on the rise
SANTA FE –The New Mexico Department of Health (NMDOH) calls attention to a shifting public health challenge in New Mexico: people may be smoking cigarettes less, but they are vaping more.
NMDOH encourages New Mexicans to seek help in quitting.
New Mexico adults are smoking cigarettes at the lowest rate in years -- but more are vaping, a trend health officials warn is trading one public health risk for another.
The percentage of New Mexico adults who smoke has dropped from 15% in 2022 to 11.7% in 2024. The percentage of adults who use e-cigarettes has increased from 7.3% to 8.2% over that same period, according to data from NMDOH.
The agency is drawing attention to the shift ahead of World No Tobacco Day this Sunday.
“New Mexicans have made progress quitting smoking, but it remains a significant public health problem,” said Anthony Garcia, Director of NMDOH’s Nicotine Use Prevention and Control office. “More people are vaping, especially youth, because it’s sold as a safer choice to cigarettes, but e-cigarettes contain toxic chemicals linked to cancer along with brain, cardiovascular, and respiratory harm.”
The risks are significant: tobacco kills approximately 2,600 New Mexicans each year and is responsible for nearly 24% of cancer deaths in the state, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
There is some good news based on the most recent data for youth: high school cigarette smoking dropped from 8.3% in 2019 to 3.3% in 2023, and high school e-cigarette use dropped from 33.4% to 18.8% in the same timeframe. Middle school e-cigarette use dropped from 15.1% in 2019 to a record low of 10.4% in 2023.
NMDOH encourages New Mexicans who use any form of nicotine – including vaping—to seek free help quitting.
People can call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or 1-855-DEJELO-YA (1-855-335-3569). For those interested in learning more or enrolling online, web-based services are available at QuitNowNM.org or DejeloYaNM.org. The Quitline supports people who want to quit any form of nicotine, including vaping, and the service is completely free for all New Mexicans.
Teens and young adults (13-26 years old) can get help through the no cost Live Vape program, which provides coaching, text support, videos, and podcasts to help youth and young adults quit vaping. Visit LiveVapeFreeNM.com.
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Disminuyen las tasas de tabaquismo, pero el consumo de nicotina va en aumento