E-Cigarettes (Vaping) – Center for Young Women's Health

Key Facts

Vaping has become a dangerous trend among teens in the United States.
Vaping is just as addictive as regular cigarettes.
E-liquids contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals that can cause a very serious lung condition.

E-cigarettes (vaping) have been around for decades, but it wasn’t until recently that researchers noticed a large increase in their use. Over the past 10 years, vaping has grown and become a popular, but dangerous trend among teens and adolescents. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), in 2019, 5.4 million youth between the ages of 11 to 18 years old, reported using e-cigarettes regularly.

What is vaping?

Vaping is a form of smoking. Electric cigarettes (E-cigarettes) are battery operated smoking devices that have been around since the early 1960’s. In order for the e-cigarette to work properly, an e-liquid cartridge is required. When the liquid is inhaled, a vapor is produced. Vaping may also be called, “Juuling”, named after a popular brand of e-cigarettes and e-liquid.

Do e-cigarettes look like a traditional cigarette?

Much like the latest smartphones, the new version of e-cigarettes are discreet and sleek. You may think that you have never seen an e-cigarette before, but you would likely be surprised. JUUL pens are known as one of the most popular vaping products among teens and can look like everyday items such as a USB stick, pen, or an inhaler. The discreet appearance allows teens to easily conceal the device at school and at home.

Are there harmful chemicals in e-liquid?

Yes. E-liquid contains the highly addictive chemical, “nicotine” which is the same harmful chemical found in traditional or regular cigarettes. Teens become hooked on the device because they don’t typically realize that e-liquid contains nicotine. It may be possible to buy e-liquid without the cancer causing chemical, nicotine; however, even nicotine free e-liquid contains other harmful and lung-irritating chemicals such as tin, nickel, and lead.

FACT: Prior to February 2020, many e-liquids were flavored, which was very appealing to teens. Flavors such as apple, cotton candy, mango, mint, that were available for purchase, are now banned in most states

My teen thinks vaping is the safer choice. Is that true?

Initially e-cigarettes were thought to be a “healthier” alternative to tobacco products. Major tobacco companies even advertised that e-cigarettes were safer, cleaner and a less addictive alternative to regular cigarettes. Over the past several years, research has shown that e-cigarettes are not a safer smoking option. More research is needed to determine whether vaping without nicotine, could potentially help people to quit smoking (regular cigarettes).

FACT: Right now, we don’t know the long-term effects vaping may have on a person’s health, but we do know that health care providers have many young patients falling ill to a mysterious and very serious lung illness thought to be caused by e-cigarette use.

Is vaping addictive?

Yes. Many teens and adults don’t realize they’re addicted to e-cigarettes and think that they can quit vaping anytime they want. Unfortunately, nicotine (the drug in some e-liquid, smokeless tobacco and cigarettes) is addictive. So even if a person only vapes once in a while, they are at risk of becoming addicted. It can also be difficult to say “no” to peer pressure, especially since vaping has become a popular activity among teens.

Fast facts about vaping:

Vaping is NOT safe for teens and young adults or anyone who is pregnant.
Teach your teen about false advertising tricks. The companies who make vaping liquids are trying to get teens and young adults to try it.
In addition to nicotine, there are other dangerous chemicals in vaping liquids such as metals including tin, nickel, and lead.
99% of vaping or e-liquid sold in the United States contains nicotine, even when the packaging doesn’t list it.
E-cigarettes contain up to 20x MORE NICOTINE than regular cigarettes
Marijuana (weed) and other drugs can be inhaled in e-cigarettes.
Anyone that is near a person who is smoking an e-cigarette is also exposed to the harmful effects of vaping.
Vaping is so new that scientists do not know all about the possible side effects yet.

What should I do if I think my child is vaping?

If you think your child is vaping, it’s a good idea to begin by having a calm conversation about the health risks. You could start by talking about how the e-cigarette companies are trying to appeal to young people but that vaping is just as addictive as regular cigarettes. Allow your child to talk about their feelings and answer their questions as best as you can. You may suggest that you both visit the CDC.gov website and read about current studies about the effects vaping has a person’s health. Let them know that you are concerned about their well-being and you are worried that they are at risk of developing a very serious and life-changing lung condition, thought to be caused from vaping.

If your child is experiencing problems with breathing, call their health care provider immediately or take them to the closest emergency room.

Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.