Vaping rates in Utah increased by 260% between 2012 and 2022, according to the Utah tobacco data dashboard, even as traditional cigarette smoking reached a historic low of 5.8% in 2024. The state's latest data highlights shifting nicotine consumption patterns across different age demographics and socioeconomic groups.
Shifting Nicotine Consumption Trends
The Utah tobacco data dashboard, maintained by the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, provides a comprehensive overview of nicotine product use across the state. The data tracks cigarettes, vapes, and smokeless tobacco, while examining how socioeconomic, health-related, and geographic characteristics influence use. The dashboard aims to inform statewide and local efforts to reduce tobacco-related disease and deaths among all Utahns.
According to the dashboard, current cigarette smoking has declined by 43.1% since 2012. This decline has brought smoking rates to a historic low of 5.8% as of 2024. In contrast, the use of vaping products saw a massive surge over a decade, with a 260% increase recorded between 2012 and 2022. However, the data indicates that vaping rates did not change between 2023 and 2024.
Trends Among Young Adults
Data regarding young adults shows different trends compared to the general population. Vaping among young adults decreased by 31.9% from 2019 to 2024. Meanwhile, the use of smokeless products, including chewing tobacco, snuff, or snus, among young adults reached a previous high of 3.8% in 2024.
The dashboard also notes that cigarette smoking among young adults declined from 2012 to 2017 and subsequently leveled out between 2018 and 2024. The Utah Department of Health and Human Services notes that the 2012 estimate for young adult vaping is deemed unreliable due to a coefficient of variation greater than 30%, and advises caution when interpreting that specific estimate.
Socioeconomic Disparities in Use
The Utah Department of Health and Human Services emphasizes that progress in reducing tobacco addiction has not been equal across all population groups. Barriers to living a life free from tobacco and nicotine addiction include poverty and unequal economic and social conditions.
As a result, disparities in tobacco use continue to persist based on several factors, including income, education, occupation, geography, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and behavioral health status. The dashboard also highlights that targeted tobacco industry marketing has further increased the risk for tobacco use in specific population groups.
Data Accessibility and Tools
The dashboard is designed as an interactive tool to assist local health districts. Users can access district-specific data, reports, and tables by clicking on local areas within the provided maps. The platform allows users to view trends through various charts, including adult trends, 18-24 age demographics, youth trends, and youth experimentation.
Users can customize their views by selecting or deselecting specific data types, such as smokeless tobacco, cigarettes, or vapes, via checkboxes in the legends. The interface also includes controls to zoom, pan, or download specific charts as PNG files for further analysis.
Public Health Objectives
The information presented in the dashboard is intended to support efforts to address tobacco-related health issues. The data highlights the ongoing challenge of nicotine addiction, noting that while traditional smoking is declining, other forms of nicotine use, such as vaping and smokeless tobacco, remain significant public health considerations.
Federal Health Context
The dashboard's data is informed by findings from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Specifically, the dashboard references the 2024 report from the Surgeon General, titled "Eliminating Tobacco-Related Disease and Death: Addressing Disparities," which emphasizes the need to address the unequal impact of tobacco use across different demographics.
