New Survey Finds More Youth Experimenting with E-Cigarettes as Adult Smoking Reaches Record Lows

ONEONTA, N.Y. – A new 2026 Community Tobacco Survey conducted by the Siena College Research Institute on behalf of Tobacco Free Communities: Delaware, Otsego & Schoharie Counties shows encouraging progress in reducing tobacco use across the region, while underscoring the continued need to address youth vaping, flavored tobacco products and tobacco-related health disparities.

 

The survey found that adult smoking rates have reached historic lows across all three counties, with smoking prevalence at 12% in Delaware County, 10% in Otsego County and 9% in Schoharie County. The findings reflect years of collaborative tobacco prevention, education and cessation efforts throughout the region.

 

Residents also continue to demonstrate strong support for smoke-free environments. Between 80% and 88% of respondents reported that smoking is not allowed inside their homes, and most residents support policies that protect people from exposure to secondhand smoke in workplaces and public spaces.

 

“The good news is that fewer adults are smoking and our communities continue to support tobacco-free environments,” said Deborah Ruggiero, MS, RN, MCHES, Director of Tobacco Free Communities: Delaware, Otsego & Schoharie Counties. “At the same time, we can't ignore the rise in youth who are experimenting with e-cigarettes. Flavored products continue to attract young people, and that's a tremendous concern. This survey reminds us that protecting kids from nicotine addiction must remain a priority.”

 

Survey respondents also expressed concern about flavored tobacco products, with approximately seven in 10 residents agreeing that flavors make tobacco products more appealing to youth and increase the likelihood that young people will begin using them.

 

Although most residents continue to support restrictions on tobacco sales near schools, support for these measures declined in some communities compared to previous surveys. In addition, tobacco use remains disproportionately higher among individuals with lower incomes and lower levels of educational attainment, emphasizing the continued need for equitable prevention and cessation resources.

 

The survey results will help guide local tobacco control initiatives and community education efforts throughout Delaware, Otsego and Schoharie counties, ensuring resources are directed where they can have the greatest impact.

 

“The survey findings show that our communities have made meaningful progress in reducing tobacco use and creating healthier, smoke-free environments,” said Ruggiero. “At the same time, the data remind us that our work is not finished. Youth vaping, flavored tobacco products and ongoing health disparities continue to threaten the health of our residents. By working together with schools, healthcare providers, community organizations and local leaders, we can build on this progress and ensure that future generations are protected from nicotine addiction and tobacco-related disease.”

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Surgeon General, tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the United States. Smoking and secondhand smoke exposure contribute to more than 480,000 deaths annually, while more than 16 million Americans live with a smoking-related disease.

 

Health experts also continue to warn about the effects of nicotine on adolescent brain development. Youth exposure to nicotine can affect learning, memory, attention and impulse control. Nationally, more than 1.6 million youth reported current e-cigarette use in 2024, and nearly 88% of youth who vape reported using flavored products.

 

By continuing to focus on prevention, cessation, policy and health equity, Tobacco Free Communities: Delaware, Otsego & Schoharie Counties will work to further reduce tobacco use, protect youth from nicotine addiction and improve health outcomes for residents across the region.

 

For support in quitting smoking or vaping, New Yorkers can call the New York State Quitline at 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487) or visit www.nysmokefree.com for free resources, counseling and nicotine replacement therapy for eligible individuals.

 

 

 

About Tobacco Free Communities: Delaware, Otsego & Schoharie Counties
Tobacco Free Communities: Delaware, Otsego & Schoharie Counties works to reduce the burden of commercial tobacco use and nicotine addiction through education, community engagement, youth prevention initiatives, policy efforts and support for evidence-based cessation services. Funded through the New York State Tobacco Control Program, the initiative collaborates with schools, healthcare providers, municipalities, businesses and community organizations to create environments that support healthy, tobacco-free living for all residents. Contact the program for more information or to get involved.

 

About St. Joseph’s Health
St. Joseph’s Health, a non-profit health care system in Syracuse, New York, has been a trailblazer in the field since 1869 when it became the city’s first public hospital. Its commitment to exceptional care is evident in a network of acute, ambulatory, primary and specialty care services and partner care facilities providing a range of services to promote long-term health in the communities we serve. St. Joseph’s has been ranked by Consumer Reports among the top 15 heart surgery centers in the country, is a designated Primary Stroke Center, and is consistently named a Best Regional Hospital and #1 in the Syracuse Metro area by US News and World Report. St. Joseph’s Health is dedicated to excellence, innovation, and compassionate patient care. From pioneering ambulance services in Syracuse to being the first in Central New York to use DaVinci robotic surgery technology in an outpatient facility, St. Joseph’s legacy of firsts demonstrates its ongoing commitment to leading medical advancements. Affiliated with St. Joseph’s Physicians and a member of Trinity Health, St. Joseph’s Health is your trusted partner in health, combining a rich history with a forward-thinking approach to ensure the health and well-being of our communities.

 

About Trinity Health

Trinity Health is one of the largest not-for-profit, Catholic health care systems in the nation. It is a family of 121,000 colleagues and nearly 36,500 physicians and clinicians caring for diverse communities across 27 states. Nationally recognized for care and experience, the Trinity Health system includes 101 hospitals, 126 continuing care locations, the second largest PACE program in the country, 136 urgent care locations and many other health and well-being services. Based in Livonia, Michigan, its annual operating revenue in FY2023 was $21.6 billion with $1.5 billion returned to its communities in the form of charity care and other community benefit programs.

 

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