Teen Tobacco Product Use Tied to Worse Mental Health

WEDNESDAY, July 30, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Adolescents who use tobacco products are significantly more likely to report symptoms of depression and anxiety than teens who do not use tobacco products, according to a study published online July 23 in PLOS Mental Health.

Noor Abdulhay, from the School of Public Health at West Virginia University in Morgantown, and colleagues examined the association between various tobacco use profiles and mental health outcomes among U.S. middle and high school students. The analysis included data from 60,072 adolescent participants in the 2021 to 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey.

The researchers found that compared with adolescents who were nonusers, those who were ever dual users had the highest odds for symptoms of depression (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.90), for symptoms of anxiety (aOR, 1.58), and for overall psychological distress (aOR, 1.75). Similar higher odds were seen for adolescents who exclusively used e-cigarettes versus nonusers as well as those who exclusively used combustible tobacco products versus nonusers.

“While causality cannot be determined, the results from this study showed that all forms of tobacco use were significantly associated with mental health issues,” the authors write. “There is a need to continue promoting mental health support and implementing tailored interventions to combat all forms of tobacco use among adolescents.”

Abstract/Full Text