The goal of tobacco prevention is to delay or prevent the initiation of tobacco use, particularly in youth. The majority of tobacco users begin by the age of 18; in fact, each day in the U.S., more than 1,600 youth smoke their first cigarette and 200 become daily smokers. Many prevention efforts have been developed and implemented to reduce the initiation and prevalence of tobacco use. The first youth prevention efforts were due to the 1994 Surgeon General’s Report “Preventing Tobacco Use Among Young People” which concluded the importance of preventing youth tobacco use to end the tobacco epidemic. The 2012 Surgeon General’s Report expanded upon the importance of reducing adolescent tobacco use.

    Click the pyramid below to learn more about tobacco prevention efforts.