Electronic Cigarettes (e-cigs) and other “vaping” devices (such as JUUL) are battery-operated products designed to deliver nicotine, flavor and other chemicals. They turn chemicals, including highly addictive nicotine, into an aerosol that is inhaled by the user. Most e-cigs are manufactured to look like conventional cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some resemble everyday items such as pens or USB memory sticks.
To Address Your Vaping
- Adults 18 or older text READY to 34191 or click here.
- Quit Line Helped Derrick Quit Vaping
- Print friendly Vaping Fact Sheet
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%
According to the NYTS, total youth vaping peaked in 2019 at about 20%, declined to under 10% in 2021 but has risen again to around 10% since.
For more national stats, see the FDA page.
Health Effects
- United States Surgeon General’s Warning on Vaping
- Research Shows Vaping Might Damage Your Smile
- Teen’s Lungs Collapse After Years of Vaping
Wisconsin teenager Logan Krahn discusses how he nearly died after vaping, urging youth not to vape.
- 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.
- Free webinar: Vaping Evolved: What Parents Need to Know, November 17, 2021
- Nicotine alters the adolescent brain. It increases their risk for:
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- Impulsivity.
- Mood disorders.
- Stunted learning and recall.
- Diminished enjoyment of activities they normally adore.
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- A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found youth who vaped were nearly 4 times more likely to smoke.
- The TRUTH Campaign highlighted the environmental risks of vaping
- Schools: Find resources to ensure tobacco-free schools here.
- To view a poster by high school student Anna T., click here
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?
- A Cochrane review of research studies found that e-cigarettes, varenicline and cytisine were most likely to help people quit smoking. For every 100 people, 10 to 19 are likely to quit using an e-cigarette; 12 to 16 using varenicline; and 10 to 18 using cytisine.
- Another Cochrane review found that “people are more likely to stop smoking for at least six months using nicotine e-cigarettes than using nicotine replacement therapy (7 studies,2544 people), or e-cigarettes without nicotine (6 studies, 1613 people). Nicotine e-cigarettes may help more people to stop smoking than no support or behavioral support only (9 studies, 5024 people). For every 100 people using nicotine e-cigarettes to stop smoking, 8 to 10 might successfully stop smoking, compared with only 6 of 100 people using nicotine-replacement therapy, 7 of 100 using e-cigarettes without nicotine, or 4 of 100 people having no support or behavioral support only.”
- Study: Is Substituting Vapes for Cigs Sustainable?
- In a UW-CTRI study, vaping can reduce nicotine dependence, but it is unclear if patients would quit vaping.
- Another UW-CTRI study found that participants who both smoked and vaped were more likely to quit vaping than to quit smoking.
- Clinician to clinicians: What to tell your patients about vaping
- In its report, “Nicotine Without Smoke: Tobacco Harm Reduction,” the Royal College of Physicians in the United Kingdom recommended promoting both quit-smoking medications and e-cigarettes as a way to help people avoid the harms caused by smoking combustible tobacco products. The FDA has not made such recommendations.
Regulation
- FDA Denies Marketing of Suorin and blu PLUS+
- On May 5, 2016, the FDA asserted authority to regulate all tobacco products, including vaping devices. On August 8, 2016, those regulations took effect.
- The FDA continues to examine vaping products and enforce laws and regulations.
- To view a list of vaping regulations by state, click here.
- Dr. Fiore on FDA Regulation & Quitting Nicotine
- As states mull laws to raise the age to buy tobacco to 21, matching the federal Tobacco 21 law for enforcement purposes, CBS 58 in Milwaukee spoke with UW-CTRI Associate Director of Research Dr. Megan Piper about youth vaping.
- Wisconsin recently joined other states in taxing vaping products.