Vaping Health Issues
Vaping – A Growing Health Crisis
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.
