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Youth Tobacco Use in North Dakota

 
Youth Tobacco Use in North Dakota has seen improvements over the years. There has been a growing concern of increased tobacco use in youth, with the introduction and the popularization of the e-cigarette. The graph below depicts this concern.
 

 
So why is youth tobacco use dangerous?
 
On average, the brain finishes developing at age 25, with development sometimes continuing until ages 28-30. During high school and early adulthood, the portion of the brain developing is their pre-frontal cortex, which is involved in decision-making, critical thinking, self-control. Using a substance like nicotine impacts the development of the pre-frontal cortex.
 
Additionally, having a portion of the brain that is involved with critical thinking not fully developed means youth are at risk for making choices that could negatively impact their life. Using tobacco at a younger age increases the risk of developing an addiction to the product. Research has found that 9 out of 10 tobacco users started before age 18, while using tobacco at age 21 or older decreases the risk of becoming addicted to the product.
 
These risks in addition to the known risks of tobacco use make tobacco use for youth dangerous.