Report: NM high school students who smoke at low

SANTA FE — The New Mexico Department of Health reports that rates of cigarette smoking by New Mexico high school students are lower than ever before — dropping by more than 50 percent over the past decade.

According to data from the 2017 New Mexico Youth Risk and Resiliency Survey, cigarette smoking among New Mexico high school students has dropped from 24.2 percent in 2007 to 10.6 percent in 2017. Usage rates for other tobacco products including cigars, chew/ spit tobacco, and hookah (a large water pipe used to smoke tobacco) have also fallen to historic lows, the health department reports.

In a news release, NMDOH highlighted its multiple campaigns and resources focused on preventing youth and young adults from starting to use tobacco products, including:

Evolvement: a youth movement working to decrease the harmful, addictive use of commercial tobacco;

24/7 Tobacco Free Schools: a program in which students reach out to administrators of local school districts to assure campuses are tobacco free 24 hours a day, seven days a week;

No Minor Sale: a campaign educating New Mexico communities, parents and retailers to help prevent illegal tobacco sales to minors;

Tobacco Free Campuses New Mexico: providing technical assistance and resources for New Mexico colleges and universities committed to implementing tobacco-free campus policies.