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Objectives. To examine the global prevalence of and factors associated with tobacco dependence among adolescents who are currently smoking. Methods. We obtained 2012 to 2019 Global Youth Tobacco Survey data on 67 406 adolescents aged 12 to 16 years from 125 countries or territories (hereafter countries). Those with tobacco dependence were defined as current smokers who felt a strong desire to smoke again within 24 hours after smoking or who had ever smoked or felt like smoking first thing in the morning. Results. The global prevalence of tobacco dependence among adolescents who were currently smoking was 38.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 34.0, 42.7). The prevalence was highest in high-income countries (49.8%; 95% CI = 47.0, 52.6) and lowest in lower-middle-income countries (31.2%; 95% CI = 26.9, 35.4). Secondhand smoke exposure, parental smoking, smoking among closest friends, tobacco advertisement exposure, and offers of free tobacco products were positively associated with tobacco dependence. Conclusions. Nearly 40% of adolescents who are currently smoking have tobacco dependence worldwide. Public Health Implications. Our findings emphasize the need to develop tobacco control interventions to prevent experimentation from progressing to regular smoking among adolescents who are currently smoking tobacco. ( Am J Public Health. 2023;113(8):861-869. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2023.307283).

Objectives. To describe the recent global prevalence of e-cigarette use and to investigate its associated factors among youths aged 12 to 16 years in 68 countries and territories (hereafter "countries"). Methods. We analyzed 485 746 youths aged 12 to 16 years from the population-based cross-sectional Global Youth Tobacco Survey conducted in 67 countries between 2012 and 2019 and the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey in the United States. We defined past-30-day e-cigarette use as using e-cigarettes on 1 or more days during the past 30 days. Results. The global prevalence of past-30-day e-cigarette use among youths was 9.2%, ranging from 1.9% in Kazakhstan to 33.2% in Guam. Maternal smoking (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.29, 1.52), paternal smoking (AOR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.07, 1.19), secondhand smoke exposure (AOR = 1.74; 95% CI = 1.64, 1.84), youth cigarette smoking (AOR = 7.18; 95% CI = 6.84, 7.54), and youth other tobacco use (AOR = 3.88; 95% CI = 3.62, 4.15) were positively associated with e-cigarette use. Conclusions. E-cigarette use was moderately frequent among youths aged 12 to 16 years globally. Several important factors were associated with youth e-cigarette use. Public Health Implications. Our findings highlight the need for countries worldwide to develop policies to address e-cigarette use among youths. ( Am J Public Health. 2022;112(4):650-661. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306686).

Objectives: To compare consumption of carbonated soft drinks among young adolescents in 53 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)., Methods: We used 2009 to 2013 Global School-based Student Health Survey data to assess 137 449 young adolescents aged 12 to 15 years with available data (via a standardized questionnaire) on frequency of carbonated soft drink consumption., Results: Overall, young adolescents reported having consumed carbonated soft drinks 1.39 times per day (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.26, 1.51), and 54.3% of adolescents reported consuming a carbonated soft drink at least once per day. Frequency (times per day) varied greatly across countries, ranging from 0.52 (95% CI = 0.43, 0.60) in Kiribati to 2.39 (95% CI = 2.25, 2.53) in Suriname., Conclusions: Our data confirm that consumption of carbonated soft drinks is frequent among young adolescents in LMICs. Our findings highlight the need for interventions in these countries to reduce adolescents' carbonated soft drink consumption.