Vaping Health Issues

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Vaping is an escalating public health crisis. Over the past decade, teen vaping has surged to alarming levels, creating a new frontier in youth substance use and respiratory health risks. 

• According to the World Health Organization, at least 15 million teenagers (ages 13-15) currently vape, (October 2025). 
• The CDC reports in the U.S. at least 2.1 million middle and high schoolers (ages 13-18) use e-cigarettes. Among them, the majority report frequent or daily use, often with high concentrations of nicotine or THC cartridges, (CDC, 2024).

This rise is largely driven by:

• Slick marketing and flavored products that mask the harshness of nicotine or cannabis.
• Misconception that vaping is “safer” than smoking.
• Peer normalization via social media.
• Youth have high ease-of access to vape products due to social sourcing, online purchasing, and weak age-verification pathways.