State health officials say cigarette use has reached its lowest level in years even as more adults turn to e-cigarettes.

Organ Mountain News report

SANTA FE - New Mexico adults are smoking cigarettes at the lowest rate in years, but health officials say a growing number are turning to e-cigarettes instead.

The New Mexico Department of Health is highlighting the trend ahead of World No Tobacco Day on Sunday, warning that declining smoking rates do not necessarily mean nicotine use is disappearing.

According to NMDOH data, the percentage of New Mexico adults who smoke cigarettes fell from 15% in 2022 to 11.7% in 2024. During the same period, adult e-cigarette use increased from 7.3% to 8.2%.

“New Mexicans have made progress quitting smoking, but it remains a significant public health problem,” said Anthony Garcia, director of NMDOH’s Nicotine Use Prevention and Control office. “More people are vaping, especially youth, because it’s sold as a safer choice to cigarettes, but e-cigarettes contain toxic chemicals linked to cancer along with brain, cardiovascular and respiratory harm.”

Health officials estimate tobacco use kills about 2,600 New Mexicans each year and contributes to nearly 24% of cancer deaths statewide, according to the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

State data show youth tobacco use has also declined in recent years.

Among high school students, cigarette smoking dropped from 8.3% in 2019 to 3.3% in 2023. High school e-cigarette use fell from 33.4% to 18.8% during the same period.

Middle school e-cigarette use also reached a record low, declining from 15.1% in 2019 to 10.4% in 2023.

The Department of Health encourages New Mexicans who use nicotine products, including e-cigarettes, to seek help quitting.

Free cessation services are available through the New Mexico Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) and 1-855-DEJELO-YA (1-855-335-3569). Additional resources are available online at QuitNowNM.org and DejeloYaNM.org.

Teens and young adults ages 13 to 26 can also access free support through the Live Vape Free program, which offers coaching, text support, videos and podcasts designed to help participants quit vaping. More information is available at LiveVapeFreeNM.com.