In CAN's school survey, snus use has increased over the past ten years. But not in the latest survey. In CAN's national school survey for 2025, the increase in snus use stops, and a small, but not significant, decline is seen.
Sniffing decreases slightly
14 percent of 9th graders use snus. That's a decrease of 2 percentage points. In the second year of high school, 27 percent use snus. That's also a decrease of 2 percentage points. The percentages show total snus use. Those who do it at some point as well as those who do it daily.
– This is the first time that we have not seen an increase in any of the groups, neither among boys nor girls in ninth grade and upper secondary school. It is a bit early to talk about a trend change, but it is still something that we want to continue to follow carefully, says Martina Zetterqvist, investigator at CAN, to TT.
Unlike snus, traditional smoking has been declining for a long time. In the latest report, 7 percent of 9th graders smoke. This is a historically low percentage. Ten years ago, the percentage was 12 percent. Twenty years ago, almost one in four students smoked (24 percent).
Few people smoke daily
In high school, there has also been a decrease in smoking, but from a higher level. In 2024, 21 percent smoked, this year it is 19 percent. The figures for smoking apply to total smoking, those who do it often, sometimes or every day. Smoking daily is very unusual. Only 1 percent in junior high school and 1 percent in high school state that they smoke every day.
Girls vape the most
From a ten-year perspective, vaping has become more common. Use was relatively stable until 2022, then increased sharply. Since then, use has decreased. 14 percent vape in ninth grade and 21 percent in second grade in high school. It is much more common for girls to vape than boys. In ninth grade, 9 percent of boys vape and 18 percent of girls vape. In high school, 12 percent of boys vape. The only group where vaping has increased this year is among girls in high school. Last year, 22 percent of girls vaped, now it is 24 percent. The figures apply to total vaping. Most people only vape occasionally, not daily or often.
Nicotine at the same level
Overall, it is about as common for young people to use tobacco or nicotine today as it was ten years ago. In 2022, use increased before declining, especially among ninth graders. This year, 21 percent of ninth graders and 36 percent of high school students reported using tobacco or nicotine in the past month.
