Youth Tobacco Use Trends and Resources to Help Kick the Habit

The 2025 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey (MIYHS) results, released in November 2025, show a general decline in traditional tobacco and vaping use among students in the Downeast Public Health District(Washington and Hancock counties) compared to 2023. The use of newer nicotine products like pouches, however, has increased.

Key trends and emerging issues-information found in text below the image.

Key Trends and Emerging Issues

  • Fewer middle and high school students are vaping. Consistent with statewide trends, the Downeast District saw a notable drop in current electronic vapor product use, continuing a downward trend from 2023.

  • More high school students are using nicotine pouches. While traditional smoking and vaping decreased, there has been a significant "emerging trend" in the use of nicotine pouches and dissolvable tobacco. Statewide, nicotine pouch use among high schoolers rose from 3.1% in 2023 to 5.2% in 2025.

  • High Lifetime Usage Persists: Despite lower daily or monthly use, self-reported "lifetime usage" (having ever tried a product) remains high, with approximately 1 in 10 middle schoolers reporting having ever used a vapor product.

Free Resources for Quitting Tobacco

Youth tobacco use is unsafe in any form. Maine has resources available to help anyone quit. The Maine QuitLink offers My Life, My Quit, a tobacco cessation and treatment service for youth ages 13-17 years. 

My Life, My Quit provides web-based services and tailored educational materials, as well as free and confidential coaching through phone, chat, and text-based sessions with a tobacco treatment specialist for youth who use combustible, smokeless, and electronic tobacco products and want to quit. My Life, My Quit was developed with youth input and is currently offered in more than 20 states, including Maine. 

The My Life, My Quit Program is for young people ages 13-17 who want help to quit all forms of tobacco, including vaping, smoking, or chewing. My Life, My Quit Coaches help youth:

• Develop a quit plan

• Cope with stress

• Learn about nicotine 

• Get ongoing support

Connect with My Life, My Quit

Trusted adults, including providers, school personnel, youth-serving entities and other community organizations, can refer a teen to My Life, My Quit online.

Are you ready to quit? Click here or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW

The Maine QuitLink is an online resource to support Maine residents in going tobacco-free and connect them to tobacco treatment. Maine QuitLink offers expert counseling and is committed to making a difference through support that can help you stay tobacco-free for life.

In addition to My Life, My Quit, the Maine QuitLink offers a range of services to help people quit or support others, including:

Vape Free Maine – For teens who want to learn about the dangers of vaping and get support to quit.

Vaping Conversation Guide for Parents,

More Tips for Talking to Teens

SmokefreeTXT for Teens – For teens ages 13-17 ready to quit smoking.

Visit the MaineHealth Center for Tobacco Independence website for resources for providers, school staff, and more.

For additional tobacco prevention and cessation resources for yourself, your loved ones, your students/classroom, or your employees/business, contact our Tobacco Prevention team at tobacco@healthyacadia.org.

POSTTracey CarlsonCE, HPM, SB, SPR, my life my quit, tobacco free, tobacco cessation, youth tobacco use, youth tobacco use prevention