Use of Tobacco and Nicotine Products among Young People in Denmark—Status in Single and Dual Use

Abstract

Lots of new tobacco or nicotine products are being launched, e.g., e-cigarettes and smokeless tobacco, which appeal especially to the youngest part of the population. For example, the use of smokeless tobacco among Danish youth rose from approx. 2% in 2010 to 9% in 2020. Hence, there is an urgent need to follow and intervene against youth tobacco or nicotine product use. This study explored the current use of cigarettes, e-cigarettes, heated tobacco, and smokeless tobacco among Danish 15- to 29-year-olds. Further, we examined the concurrent use of two products or more. We used a nationwide survey conducted among 15- to 29-year-olds in February and March 2020. Overall, approx. 35,700 individuals received the questionnaire of which 35.5% responded (n = 13,315). One out of five (20.1%) smoked cigarettes, half of them daily, the other half occasionally. About one in twenty (3.9%) used e-cigarettes (daily or occasionally), and more than one in three (31.6%) had tried e-cigarettes. The use of heated tobacco among Danish youth is still relatively limited (0.3%). In comparison, about 9% used smokeless tobacco (daily or occasionally). Overall, 27.0% stated that they use at least one type of tobacco or nicotine product, while 5.6% used more than one product. Monitoring tobacco-related behavior in youth provides extremely important information for, e.g., policymakers and health professionals.