Oregon meets tobacco reduction goals, but vaping and disparities persist
PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Oregon has made significant progress in reducing tobacco use, meeting or exceeding all three tobacco-reduction goals established for 2017–2025, according to a new report from the Oregon Health Authority.
The report, Evaluating the Impact of Statewide Policies on Tobacco Use and Sales, examines tobacco-use and sales trends before and after Oregon implemented three major statewide policies: Tobacco 21, which raised the legal age to purchase tobacco and nicotine products; increased tobacco taxes through Ballot Measure 108; and Tobacco Retail Licensing, which requires retailers to obtain a license to sell tobacco and nicotine products.
Youth and adult smoking declines
The report found substantial declines in cigarette use among Oregon youth and adults.
In 2024, about 1% of Oregon eighth graders and 2.8% of 11th graders reported currently smoking cigarettes. That's down from 4.3% and 8.8%, respectively, in 2015.
Adult cigarette smoking also declined. The percentage of Oregon adults who smoked fell from 17.1% in 2016 to 11% in 2024, exceeding the state's goal of 13.3%.
Cigarette sales dropped as well. Annual per-capita cigarette sales fell from 38.3 packs per person in 2016 to 21 packs in 2024, surpassing the state's goal of 34 or fewer packs per person.
Youth e-cigarette use also declined. Among eighth graders, current e-cigarette use fell from 9.3% in 2015 to 4.1% in 2024. Among 11th graders, it declined from 17.1% to 9%.
However, adult e-cigarette use increased through 2023 before declining in 2024. OHA said the trend highlights the changing tobacco and nicotine marketplace.
“Tobacco use remains one of the leading preventable causes of death and disease in Oregon, so these declines represent meaningful progress,” said Dean Sidelinger, M.D., M.S.Ed., health officer and state epidemiologist.
“At the same time, we know that not everyone in Oregon has benefited equally from that progress. Continuing to reduce tobacco-related disease will require sustained attention to the communities most affected and to the rapidly changing nicotine marketplace.”
Disparities remain
Despite the overall declines, OHA said tobacco use remains higher among some groups.
Among youth, higher tobacco use was reported among some gender-nonconforming youth, as well as American Indian/Alaska Native and North African/Middle Eastern youth.
Among adults, tobacco use remained higher among Black/African American and American Indian/Alaska Native adults, bisexual adults, people with less than a college education, people with lower incomes, and people who were unemployed or unable to work.
The report recommends continued investment in tobacco prevention and cessation programs, particularly in communities experiencing higher rates of tobacco use.
Tobacco retail licensing
Oregon's Tobacco Retail Licensing policy took effect Jan. 1, 2022. It requires businesses that sell tobacco and inhalant-delivery systems to obtain a license through the Oregon Department of Revenue.
OHA's Tobacco Retail Licensing Program works with the Department of Revenue to monitor tobacco retailers and enforce tobacco sales laws.
The evaluation found changes in tobacco use and sales during the period when the statewide policies were implemented. However, OHA cautioned that the findings do not establish that the policies directly caused the observed changes.
The full evaluation, Evaluating the Impact of Statewide Policies on Tobacco Use and Sales, is available through the Oregon Health Authority.
