A Q and A on Vaping and Teens
Vaping and Teens: straight answers to the questions people actually ask, with the figures behind them.
Using e-cigarettes and other vaping devices, which heat a liquid, usually containing nicotine, into an aerosol that is inhaled.
Key takeaways
- Legal age to buy tobacco products, including e-cigarettes: 21 nationwide
- Nicotine content: most e-cigarettes contain it, including some labeled nicotine-free
- Most useful single change: Talk with teens early and calmly, and ask what they know rather than lecturing.
- Commonest mistake: Assuming flavored or "nicotine-free" products are harmless.
- See a doctor if any of the signs under "When to speak to a doctor" below apply to you.
What is Vaping and Teens?
Using e-cigarettes and other vaping devices, which heat a liquid, usually containing nicotine, into an aerosol that is inhaled.
Why does it matter?
E-cigarettes have been the most commonly used tobacco product among US youth since 2014, and nicotine can harm the developing brain, which keeps maturing until about age 25.
Legal age to buy tobacco products, including e-cigarettes for Vaping and Teens?
21 nationwide.
Nicotine content for Vaping and Teens?
Most e-cigarettes contain it, including some labeled nicotine-free.
Effects of nicotine in teens for Vaping and Teens?
Addiction, and harm to attention, learning and impulse control.
Free quit help for Vaping and Teens?
1-800-QUIT-NOW.
What is the single most useful thing to do?
Talk with teens early and calmly, and ask what they know rather than lecturing.
What is the most common mistake?
Assuming flavored or "nicotine-free" products are harmless.
When should I see a doctor?
See your doctor for a cough, wheezing or shortness of breath in a teen who vapes, or for help quitting. Call 911 for chest pain or trouble breathing, and call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away if a child swallows or spills e-liquid on the skin.
More questions, answered
Is vaping safer than smoking cigarettes?
For adults who already smoke, switching completely to e-cigarettes may reduce exposure to some harmful chemicals. For teens and young adults who do not smoke, vaping is not safe; it exposes them to nicotine and other harmful substances and may lead to cigarette smoking.
How much nicotine is in a vape?
It varies widely. Some pods and disposable devices contain as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes or more, and some products labeled nicotine-free have been found to contain nicotine. Because use is continuous rather than one cigarette at a time, it is easy to take in more than intended.
What is secondhand vape aerosol?
People nearby can breathe in aerosol exhaled by someone vaping, which can contain nicotine, fine particles and other chemicals. Keeping homes and cars vape-free protects others, especially children and people with asthma.
Can a teen get addicted quickly?
Yes. The developing brain is more sensitive to nicotine, and signs of dependence, such as cravings and needing to vape soon after waking, can appear after a relatively short time of regular use.
Are flavored e-cigarettes banned?
Federal rules restrict flavored cartridge-based products, and the FDA must authorize e-cigarette products for sale. Some states and cities have broader flavor bans. However, unauthorized flavored products, especially disposables, are still widely sold.
Does vaping affect sports performance?
Nicotine raises heart rate and blood pressure, and vaping can irritate the airways and cause coughing and wheezing. Teens who vape may notice reduced stamina, and quitting can help them breathe and perform better.
Related topics
- What the Guidance Really Says About Vaping and E-Cigarettes (Substance Use and Recovery)
- The Evidence on Stopping Smoking, Without the Hype (Preventive Care)
- Smoking and the Lungs: Sorting the Evidence From the Noise (Respiratory Health)
- Smoking and the Heart: What Published Guidance Supports (Heart Health)
Where to go next
- Vaping and Teens: The Practical To-Do List
- Popular Beliefs About Vaping and Teens, and What Is Actually Published
- Vaping and Teens — the reference entry
- Teen Health: The Complete Guide
- Teen Mental Health and 988: What Published Guidance Supports
- Social Media and Teens: What the Evidence Actually Says
When to speak to a doctor
See your doctor for a cough, wheezing or shortness of breath in a teen who vapes, or for help quitting. Call 911 for chest pain or trouble breathing, and call Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 right away if a child swallows or spills e-liquid on the skin.
Where this comes from
- CDC — Youth and E-Cigarettes
- FDA — Tobacco 21
- National Institute on Drug Abuse — Vaping Devices (Electronic Cigarettes) DrugFacts
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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