Smoking goes back, but young people use new nicotine products

Smoking decreases in Luxembourg, but new forms of use are primarily appealing younger people. This emerges from the annual tobacco survey for 2024, which the Ilres Institute on behalf of the Fondation Cancer and the Ministry of Health and Social Security carried out.

In Luxembourg there are said to be 123,000 smokers aged 16 and over. This corresponds to 23 percent of the residents, 15 percent of whom are sometimes smoking daily and 8 percent. This number has a declining trend: Because in 2023, 27 percent stated that they smoke. The development is encouraging, but must be confirmed in the long term.

Young people are enthusiastic about puff bars

However, the study also shows that young people are increasingly attracted to alternative products. Sometimes they smell of chewing gum, sometimes for cherry, apple or blueberry. When you pass at schools, street cafes or tram stops, you can see disposable e-cigarettes or so-called puffs everywhere. They are also heavily advertised on social networks.

The 16- to 24-year-olds are particularly taken with these new nicotine products: in 2024, 26 percent of them stated that they had consumed them. Puff bars dominate this category with a usage rate of 93 percent. The main reasons are the taste and pleasure. In Luxembourg, the sale of these products is still allowed, unlike in France or Belgium.

Another worrying phenomenon is that 16 percent of young people consume nicotine bags. This is a strongly addictive product that is still a marginal phenomenon in other age groups, but is quickly increasing in the younger ones.

« These results show that traditional smoking is declining, but is replaced by new forms of consumer.

A high burden of smoke

According to a study of the World Health Organization (WHO) From October 2024, a ban on tobacco sales to young people who were born between 2006 and 2010 would prevent almost 1.2 million deaths from lung cancer by the end of the century.

However, the Ilres survey also shows that passive smoking is a worrying situation. In the interiors, 38 percent of the residents are affected. Outdoor, 71 percent of the population report on exposure, especially on terraces or at bus and tram stops.

Almost a third of the young people are even confronted with it every day. Margot married emphasized that this exposure could be « an entry goal to the classic cigarette ».

But do smokers want to stop? In 2024, 46 percent of the smokers stated that they wanted to stop, and 34 percent had already tried to quit smoking in the past 12 months. This wish is even more pronounced in young people: 62 percent of 16 to 24 year olds state that they want to stop, and every second has already tried.

82 percent of the attempts at weaning take place without accompaniment. Stress is still the greatest obstacle, especially for unemployed, self -employed and housewives.

Sensitization and reduction of prejudices

A communication campaign will start in the next few days. It was organized in cooperation with the 4Motion association and with the participation of the influencer Micas Carvalho.

The aim is to sensitize 13- to 24-year-olds to the addiction factor of nicotine products, to explain the mechanisms of dependency and to deconstruct privately.

The campaign is carried out in two phases. The first phase will take place from June 28th to 30th and includes a teasing phase and a phase in which the young people create content. The second phase takes place in June/July and includes a digital campaign on social networks.

And on the occasion of the World Smoking Day On May 31, information material will also be distributed in hospitals and medical practices. A QR code refers to a platform that shows all weaning aids available in the Grand Duchy.

This article originally appeared on « Virgule ». Translation and revision: Sabrina Backes.