Quit Line Helped Derrick Quit Vaping

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Man vaping on a park bench

3 Million + Students Smoke, Vape or Chew Tobacco

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cigarette and vaping device

Study: Is Substituting Vapes for Cigs Sustainable?

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Vaping and Electronic Cigarettes (E-cigs)

How Many Youth Vape?

On Nov. 2, 2023, the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), released data from the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) on tobacco product use among U.S. youth. The findings, which were collected between March and June 2023, show that 10% of U.S. middle and high school students (2.8 million youth) reported current use of any tobacco product.

  • U.S. high school students who vape=12.6%
  • U.S. middle school students who vape=6.6%

For more national stats, see the FDA page.

Health Effects

  • A congressionally mandated panel from the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine examined more than 800 peer-reviewed scientific studies. In its report, the panel concluded that evidence suggests that while e-cigarettes are not without health risks, they are likely less harmful than combustible cigarettes.
  • However, long-term health effects of vaping are unknown. The CDC has issued warnings about short-term effects. Kids should not start using nicotine.
  • Vaping devices with THC can be deadly.
    • In the United States:
      • As of February 18, 2020, a total of 2,807 hospitalized EVALI cases or deaths have been reported to CDC from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands).
      • Sixty-eight deaths have been confirmed in 29 states and the District of Columbia (as of February 18, 2020).
      • Most of these deaths have reportedly involved vaping THC with vitamin E acetate.
    • Illinois and Wisconsin: Hospitalizations from Vaping “Street” Products
Vaping News Conference
Wisconsin teenager Logan Krahn discusses how he nearly died after vaping, urging youth not to vape.

Why is youth vaping a concern?

Dr. Megan Piper discusses vaping with Hannah Flood
UW-CTRI’s Dr. Megan Piper discusses vaping with NBC 15’s Hannah Flood

How Many People Vape?

In 2021, 13.2 million people aged 12 or older (or 4.7%) used an e-cigarette or other vaping device to vape nicotine in the past month. The percentage of people who vaped nicotine was highest among young  adults aged 18 to 25 (14.1% or 4.7 million people), followed by adolescents aged 12 to 17 (5.2% or 1.4 million people), then by adults aged 26 or older (3.2% or 7.1 million people).

Among people aged 12 to 20 in 2021, 11.0% (or 4.3 million people) used tobacco products or used an e-cigarette or other vaping device to vape nicotine in the past month. Among people in this age group, 8.1% (or 3.1 million people) vaped nicotine, 5.4% (or 2.1 million people) used tobacco products, and 3.4% (or 1.3 million people) smoked cigarettes in the past month.

Among people aged 12 or older who vaped any substance in the past month, 71.1% vaped nicotine, 40.1% vaped marijuana, and 19.2% vaped flavoring.

Source: SAMHSA National Survey on Drug Use and Health (released March 2023, based on 2021 data)

Does Vaping Help People Quit Smoking? 

UW-CTRI Research on Vaping

UW-CTRI is analyzing its second study on smoking and vaping. The first UW-CTRI study on smoking and vaping found no clear evidence that vaping e-cigs reduced smoking or lowered carbon monoxide levels in participants. The second study did find that dual users of e-cigs and regular cigarettes smoked fewer cigarettes per day, but were taking in the same amount of nicotine. UW is also conducting a study on the acute and long-term effects of vaping.

There is still much about vaping we don’t know, including the interaction between smoking and COVID-19. UW-CTRI has called for more research.