A Q and A on Vaping and E-Cigarettes
Vaping and E-Cigarettes: straight answers to the questions people actually ask, with the figures behind them.
Battery-powered devices that heat a liquid, usually containing nicotine, into an aerosol that is inhaled.
Key takeaways
- Nicotine: most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive
- Brain development: continues until about age 25, and nicotine can harm it
- Most useful single change: Talk openly with teens about vaping and listen to their reasons.
- Commonest mistake: Buying vaping products from informal or online sellers, or THC vapes from unlicensed sources.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
What is Vaping and E-Cigarettes?
Battery-powered devices that heat a liquid, usually containing nicotine, into an aerosol that is inhaled.
Why does it matter?
E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among US middle and high school students, and nicotine harms the developing brain.
Brain development for Vaping and E-Cigarettes?
Continues until about age 25, and nicotine can harm it.
Legal age for Vaping and E-Cigarettes?
The federal minimum age to buy tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, is 21.
What is the single most useful thing to do?
Talk openly with teens about vaping and listen to their reasons.
What is the most common mistake?
Buying vaping products from informal or online sellers, or THC vapes from unlicensed sources.
When should I see a doctor?
See your doctor for a cough, chest pain or shortness of breath that does not go away. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if a child swallows e-liquid, and 911 if they have a seizure, trouble breathing or are hard to wake.
More questions, answered
Is vaping safer than smoking?
For adults who smoke, switching completely to e-cigarettes may reduce exposure to some harmful substances. But e-cigarettes are not harmless, and their long-term effects are not fully known. For young people and those who have never smoked, vaping offers no benefit and carries risks.
Can vaping cause lung damage?
The aerosol can contain substances that irritate the lungs, and some people develop coughing, wheezing or chest discomfort. THC vapes, especially from informal sources, have been linked to serious lung injury. See your doctor for any lasting breathing symptoms.
What should I do if a child swallows e-liquid?
E-liquid containing nicotine can be poisonous to children, even in small amounts. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away, even if the child seems fine. Call 911 if the child has a seizure, trouble breathing or is hard to wake.
Are nicotine-free vapes safe?
Products labeled nicotine-free may still contain nicotine, and the aerosol can contain other chemicals and flavorings that may harm the lungs. There is no safe level of vaping for young people. Treat these products with the same caution as other e-cigarettes.
How can I tell if my teen is vaping?
Vapes can be small and look like everyday items, and the aerosol often has little smell. Signs can include unfamiliar devices or chargers, sweet scents, increased thirst, irritability or mood changes. The best approach is a calm, open conversation rather than searching or accusing.
Can I use nicotine replacement to stop vaping?
Nicotine replacement products are FDA approved for quitting smoking in adults, and some people also use them to stop vaping. Ask your doctor whether they are right for you. Combining them with counseling or a quit program improves your chances of success.
Related topics
- Vaping and Teens: What the Evidence Actually Says (Teen Health)
- Smoking and the Heart: What Published Guidance Supports (Heart Health)
- The Evidence on Stopping Smoking, Without the Hype (Preventive Care)
- Smoking and the Lungs: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise (Respiratory Health)
Where to go next
- What the Guidance Really Says About Vaping and E-Cigarettes
- What Vaping and E-Cigarettes Is, and Why It Matters
- Vaping and E-Cigarettes — the reference entry
- Substance Use: The Complete Guide
- What the Guidance Really Says About Stimulant Use
- Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: What Published Guidance Supports
When to speak to a doctor
See your doctor for a cough, chest pain or shortness of breath that does not go away. Call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 if a child swallows e-liquid, and 911 if they have a seizure, trouble breathing or are hard to wake.
Where this comes from
- CDC — E-Cigarette Use Among Youth
- FDA — E-Cigarettes, Vapes, and other Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS)
- National Cancer Institute — Smokefree.gov
How this page was put together
Every figure, recommendation and warning above is taken from the guidance named in Where this comes from. Nothing on this page is inferred, summarized or generalized beyond what those bodies publish: where they give a number, it is their number, and where they are silent, so are we. Pages are rebuilt whenever the underlying record changes. Sign-off by a named clinician, where it has happened, is shown at the top of the page along with the date.
Medical disclaimer
This article is general information, not medical advice. It cannot account for your own history, medication or circumstances. Always speak to your doctor, pharmacist or another qualified health professional before making changes that affect your treatment, and never delay seeking medical advice because of something you have read here. In an emergency, call 911.
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