Millions of current smokers became addicted when they were teens – and nicotine marketing targets adolescents today just as it did decades ago

About 37 million children ages 13 to 15 around the world use tobacco, according to a 2024 report from the World Health Organization. In 2023, e-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product in the U.S., with 7.7% of middle school and high school students reporting e-cigarette use. Above: The image of Joe Camel, a cartoon character used to sell cigarettes, was ubiquitous in the late 1980s and most of the ‘90s.