Rapid tobacco use surveillance: Confiscated tobacco products from United States Schools, 2021–2025

The Youth Tobacco Product Monitoring Project provides timely data on the characteristics of products obtained from youth in the United States (U.S.). This manuscript documents the methodology and findings from the initial two years of collection. Launched in November 2023, as part of the Rutgers Center for Rapid Surveillance of Tobacco, U.S. school staff and community partners voluntarily upload images of products obtained from youth to an online survey. Images are coded for brand and product features. Between November 1, 2023, and September 31, 2025, we received 1535 images of 9589 nicotine products. Most ( n = 9503, 99.1 %) were electronic nicotine devices (e-cigarettes), with the majority ( n = 8642) disposable e-cigarettes. Other products were nicotine pouches ( n = 34, 0.4 %), cigarettes and rolling papers ( n = 21, 0.2 %), smokeless tobacco ( n = 17, 0.2 %), cigars (n = 9, 0.1 %), and nicotine gum ( n = 5, 0.1 %). Over 99 % of products with an identifiable flavor were non-tobacco flavored, most often fruit. Of 404 distinct nicotine brands, the most common were Geek Bar ( n = 2014, 24.8 %), Hyde ( n = 1206, 14.8 %), and Lost Mary ( n = 738, 9.1 %). Nicotine brand popularity differed by school year and state. Monitoring nicotine products confiscated in schools can provide timely insights into product types, flavors, and brands U.S. youth are obtaining. • Examining confiscated products is feasible for youth tobacco surveillance. • We obtained images of 9500+ nicotine products from schools in the United States. • Over 90 % of products were disposable electronic nicotine devices. • Most (99.7 %) products with a coded flavor were non-tobacco, with fruit most common. • We identified 400+ nicotine brands (e.g., Vuse) and more sub-brands (e.g., Vuse Alto).