More Than Just Vapor: The truth about vaping, nicotine & adolescents
October 9, 2025
According to the CDC, youth in the United States use e-cigarettes (vapes) more than any other tobacco product. While most adults know that tobacco and nicotine products are dangerous, new products are being frequently introduced by manufacturers making it challenging for parents to keep up with all the things youth may be tempted to try. Many adolescents think vaping is harmless so it’s important to learn the facts and talk about the dangers of vaping and nicotine.
"Vaping has its own dangers and can be even more addictive and harder to quit than traditional cigarettes,” says Kevin Davidson, MD, of WakeMed Pulmonology, who identified and reported cases of vaping related lung injury in North Carolina in 2019.
His findings were published in the CDC Morbity and Mortality Weekly Report and are available online at cdc.gov.
What is Vaping?
When someone uses a battery powered device (often called e-cigarettes or vapes) to heat liquid into a vapor (aerosols) that is then inhaled into the lungs. The devices used for vaping look like writing pens, highlighter flashlights, flash drives or other common household items.
They are known by several names, including but not limited to e-cigarettes, vapes, vaporizers, e-hookahs, tank systems and mods/pods.
Let’s Clear the Air
There are a lot of misconceptions about vaping, but one thing is clear – young people need to know the health risks and should be encouraged not to experiment with e-cigarettes (vapes). Advertising that promotes vaping as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes has contributed to the confusion and lack of awareness about the dangers of vaping.
Many are introduced to vaping by school peers, and they do not know what they are inhaling. They often believe e-cigarettes are safe and don’t realize they are vaping nicotine. The truth is that one vaping session can deliver more nicotine to the airways than smoking one cigarette. Studies show that adolescents who vape are more likely to become addicted to
nicotine and start smoking.
Caretakers and community leaders need to work together to provide teens with accurate information. The American Academy of Pediatrics has identified the use of e-cigarettes by youth as a significant public health concern. Educational toolkits about vaping are available at aap.org.
The Allure
"We are very concerned about targeting kids to get them addicted to nicotine at younger ages by marketing towards them and incentivizing use with flavors that would appeal to children,” says Dr. Davidson.
Various reasons reported by youth for vaping:
- Boredom
- Curiosity
- Being Hooked (Addicted)
- Popular with Peers
- Taste/Flavor(s)
- Weight Management
The Dangers
Research is being conducted to determine the long-term effects of vaping for young people, but the link has already been made between adolescents who vape and an increased risk of respiratory symptoms consistent with asthma and bronchitis.
Vaping can also lead to cases of severe lung disease that can lead to hospitalization and even death.
Make sure the youth in your life know the following about vaping:
- E-liquids that are used for vaping contain many chemicals that are dangerous to the body, including nicotine and other toxic chemicals.
- Nicotine exposure affects the way the brain grows and develops.
- Kids are more likely to become addicted to nicotine because their brains are not mature.
- Vaping affects learning, mood, and impulse controls.
A conversation guide to help parents talk to youth about vaping concerns is provided online by the American Lung Association.
Helpful Links
This article is adapted from Families First. Subscribe here.