E-Cigarettes, Vapor Products, & Emerging Products
Data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey demonstrates that youth use of e-cigarettes continues to increase and the overall use rate of e-cigarettes among youth continues to be higher than other forms of tobacco.
Electronic nicotine delivery systems go by many names. The most common name is “e-cigarettes,” but others such as e-cigs, vapes, vape pens, mods and tanks are also common terms. Most recently, new products, such as JUUL, have created brand-centric terms for product use (“JUULing”).[i] The Surgeon General has reported that tobacco use among youth and young adults in any form, including e-cigarettes, is not safe. There is also great concern that e-cigarette use may lead to future uptake of regular cigarettes among young people.[ii]
- E-cigarette use among children and teenagers may lead to addiction and harm to the developing adolescent brain.
- Youth are more likely to experience more difficulty quitting.
- Youth have a higher risk for addiction to other substances in the future.
Research shows that young people are more likely to try flavored e-cigarettes and believe that they are less harmful than tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes. Many youth e-cigarette users also incorrectly believe they aren’t consuming nicotine.
- Nicotine is harmful to developing brains.
- Nicotine levels in e-cigarettes are highly variable.
- Labeling cannot be considered a reliable indicator of nicotine content because of mislabeling.
Helping Youth Quit
The evidence on the effectiveness of these products for helping adult smokers quit completely is still uncertain and they are not approved by the FDA as an aid to quit smoking. Additionally, questions remain about the long-term health impact of e-cigarettes, including respiratory outcomes.to address the significant rise in youth vaping, the Truth Initiative has expanded its quit-smoking resources to include the first-of-its-kind e-cigarette quit program.
- Free, text message based
- Created with input from teens, college students and young adults who have attempted to, or successfully quit, e-cigarettes.
- Tailored by age group to give appropriate recommendations about quitting.
- Serves as a resource for parents looking to help their children who now vape.
- Interested in learning more about quitting both cigarettes and e-cigarettes or coping with cravings from nicotine withdrawal, here are a few additional resources
- Fact or Fiction: What to Know About Smoking Cessation and Medications (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
- Is your kid using JUUL or another e-cigarette? Here’s how you can help them quit (Truth Initiative®)
- Three ways to support loved ones while they quit smoking (Truth Initiative®)
- This is Quitting (Truth Initiative®) and BecomeAnEX® (Mayo Clinic)
- Quitting vaping? Here are 5 tips for handling nicotine withdrawal (Truth Initiative®)
Resources for Parents, Educators, & Healthcare Providers
- CATCH My Breath
- CDC E-Cigarette Fact Sheet
- E-Cigarettes and Youth: What Educators and Coaches Need to Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- E-Cigarettes and Youth: What Health Care Providers Need to Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- E-Cigarettes and Youth: What Parents Need to Know (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- E-Cigarette Microlearning Video - Long Version (Tobacco Control Network)
- E-Cigarette Microlearning Video - Shorter Version (Tobacco Control Network)
- E-Cigarettes Shaped Like Flash Drives: Information for Parents, Educators, and Health Care Providers (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- How FDA is Regulating E-Cigarettes (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
- Most JUUL-related Instagram posts appeal to youth culture and lifestyles, study finds (Truth Initiative®)
- “Protect Our Youth” Campaign Toolkit (Tobacco Stops With Me©)
- Talk with Your Teen About E-Cigarettes: A Tip Sheet for Parents (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Teachers and Parents: That USB Stick Might Be an E-Cigarette (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with E-cigarette Product Use or Vaping: Information for Clinicians (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Public Health Advisory