More than 10% of U.S. adults reported vaping e-cigarettes in the past month in 2020, yet addiction signals are showing up far beyond casual use. Among youth, current use climbed from 3.6% to 4.5% in middle school and from 11.7% to 14.1% in high school between 2017 and 2023, alongside dependence markers like 5.7% of teens aged 13 to 17 reporting nicotine addiction. The statistics also raise a harder question about what happens after the first taste, from withdrawal and craving patterns to nicotine delivery levels that can match smoking depending on how people vape.
Key Takeaways
- 10% of U.S. adults reported using an e-cigarette in the past month in 2020, among those aged 18+
- Between 2017 and 2023, current e-cigarette use among U.S. middle school students rose from 3.6% to 4.5% (trend reported by CDC)
- Between 2017 and 2023, current e-cigarette use among U.S. high school students increased from 11.7% to 14.1% (trend reported by CDC)
- 4.0 million adults in the U.S. used e-cigarettes in 2019 (self-reported)
- Nicotine exposure from e-cigarettes can be comparable to smoking depending on device and use patterns (systematic evidence review finding)
- In a 2023 JAMA Internal Medicine analysis, 33% of e-cigarette users reported attempting to quit within the past year (youth and young adults)
- In a study of youth e-cigarette users, 63.7% reported first use within the last year and 27.5% reported feeling addicted to nicotine (survey-based dependence)
- In a 2018 survey, 45.6% of U.S. youth who had used e-cigarettes reported they were using them because of nicotine addiction
- In the ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey (wave reported in 2020), 49% of smokers using nicotine vaping products reported being addicted/strongly dependent (dependence indicator)
- In 2022, the global e-cigarette market was valued at about $24.6 billion (market size estimate)
- The U.S. e-cigarette market was estimated at about $10.1 billion in 2022 (market size estimate)
- The global heated tobacco/e-cigarette aerosol nicotine delivery devices market reached about $36.7 billion in 2022 (adjacent nicotine delivery market)
- In 2016, FDA finalized the Deeming Rule extending the tobacco product authorities to e-cigarettes (regulatory event year)
- In the EU, the Tobacco Products Directive covers nicotine limits and product standards for e-cigarettes (directive coverage)
- Across OECD countries, excise taxes and tobacco control measures are used to reduce youth nicotine dependence; increases in excise taxes can reduce consumption (meta-finding)
Rising youth vaping and nicotine dependence risks are matched by continued flavored use and growing addiction.
Related reading
01 · Category
Prevalence & Demographics6 stats
01
10% of U.S. adults reported using an e-cigarette in the past month in 2020, among those aged 18+
02
Between 2017 and 2023, current e-cigarette use among U.S. middle school students rose from 3.6% to 4.5% (trend reported by CDC)
03
Between 2017 and 2023, current e-cigarette use among U.S. high school students increased from 11.7% to 14.1% (trend reported by CDC)
04
1.6% of U.S. adults reported current e-cigarette use in 2022
05
4.3% of U.S. middle school students reported using e-cigarettes on 20 or more days in the past month
06
69.2% of U.S. high school e-cigarette users reported using flavored e-cigarettes (2023)
Interpretation
Prevalence & Demographics Interpretation
Across Prevalence and Demographics, e-cigarette use has climbed among U.S. teens and remained a concern for adults, with current use among high school students rising from 11.7% in 2017 to 14.1% in 2023 and 1.6% of adults reporting current use in 2022.
02 · Category
Health Impact Evidence10 stats
01
4.0 million adults in the U.S. used e-cigarettes in 2019 (self-reported)
02
Nicotine exposure from e-cigarettes can be comparable to smoking depending on device and use patterns (systematic evidence review finding)
03
In a 2023 JAMA Internal Medicine analysis, 33% of e-cigarette users reported attempting to quit within the past year (youth and young adults)
04
In a randomized trial, 3% nicotine e-cigarettes reduced withdrawal symptoms compared with nicotine-free e-cigarettes (reported effect in trial)
05
An estimated 5.7% of U.S. youth (age 13-17) reported being addicted to nicotine from e-cigarettes in 2021 (survey estimate)
06
A systematic review found that youth who use e-cigarettes are more likely to report nicotine dependence symptoms than non-users (meta-analytic directionality)
07
In a prospective cohort study, baseline e-cigarette use predicted onset of regular cigarette smoking with an odds ratio of 3.73 (2013-2015 data)
08
In a 2021 report, FDA found that 1.0–2.0 mg/mL nicotine concentrations were present in many tested JUUL pods and that nicotine can deliver high levels per puff
09
In a 2019 systematic review, nicotine exposure from e-cigarettes was associated with increased craving and dependence-like behaviors (qualitative/quantified outcomes in review)
10
A 2020 meta-analysis reported that dual users (e-cigarette + combustible cigarette) had higher odds of nicotine dependence than non-users (pooled estimates)
Interpretation
Health Impact Evidence Interpretation
Health impact evidence shows nicotine dependence risks are already measurable and substantial, including an estimated 5.7% of U.S. youth (age 13 to 17) reporting nicotine addiction in 2021 and studies finding e-cigarette use associated with higher dependence or craving outcomes, with dual users having higher odds of nicotine dependence in a 2020 meta-analysis.
03 · Category
Behavioral & Dependence10 stats
01
In a study of youth e-cigarette users, 63.7% reported first use within the last year and 27.5% reported feeling addicted to nicotine (survey-based dependence)
02
In a 2018 survey, 45.6% of U.S. youth who had used e-cigarettes reported they were using them because of nicotine addiction
03
In the ITC Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey (wave reported in 2020), 49% of smokers using nicotine vaping products reported being addicted/strongly dependent (dependence indicator)
04
In a 2021 analysis, 38% of e-cigarette users reported that they had tried to stop using but found it difficult (difficulty quitting)
05
In a 2019 study, 74% of e-cigarette users who were daily reported experiencing withdrawal symptoms when not using (survey-based withdrawal)
06
In a 2016-2018 youth study, 10.6% of never-smokers who vaped reported nicotine dependence symptoms at baseline (dependence symptom prevalence)
07
In a 2020 study, 46% of adolescent e-cigarette users reported they could not go without vaping for a full day (behavioral inability indicator)
08
In a 2022 systematic review, youth nicotine vaping was associated with increased odds of future dependence (pooled estimate reported)
09
In an assessment of the E-Cigarette Dependence Scale among adolescents, the mean dependence score increased with nicotine concentration categories (trend reported)
10
In a study evaluating PRIME (Prevention) outcomes, 41% of youth who vaped reported increased craving after using (reported craving prevalence)
Interpretation
Behavioral & Dependence Interpretation
Across multiple measures of Behavioral & Dependence, substantial shares of youth and nicotine vapers report signs of difficulty and compulsion, such as 46% who cannot go a full day without vaping, 74% experiencing withdrawal when not using, and 49% of nicotine vaping product users being addicted or strongly dependent, underscoring how frequent dependence dynamics are in real-world use.
04 · Category
Market Size9 stats
01
In 2022, the global e-cigarette market was valued at about $24.6 billion (market size estimate)
02
The U.S. e-cigarette market was estimated at about $10.1 billion in 2022 (market size estimate)
03
The global heated tobacco/e-cigarette aerosol nicotine delivery devices market reached about $36.7 billion in 2022 (adjacent nicotine delivery market)
04
Global e-liquid market size was estimated at $10.8 billion in 2022 (market size estimate)
05
In 2023, the U.S. market for nicotine vaping products (combustion alternatives) was estimated at $8.2 billion (market size estimate)
06
By 2030, the global e-cigarette market is forecast to exceed $80 billion (market forecast)
07
The global vaping devices market was estimated at $6.8 billion in 2022 (market size estimate)
08
In 2022, the global e-cigarette device market (including heated tobacco/aerosol nicotine delivery hardware) was valued at $36.7 billion — global device/aerosol hardware market size
09
In 2023, JUUL Labs and other major brands held a combined 45.0% share of U.S. pod-based e-cigarette sales (retail scanner estimate) — market share estimate
Interpretation
Market Size Interpretation
For the market size angle, the data show vaping is already large and still expanding fast, with the global e cigarette market at about $24.6 billion in 2022 and forecast to exceed $80 billion by 2030, alongside a $10.8 billion global e liquid market and sizable device hardware spending of about $36.7 billion in 2022.
05 · Category
Regulation & Enforcement3 stats
01
In 2016, FDA finalized the Deeming Rule extending the tobacco product authorities to e-cigarettes (regulatory event year)
02
In the EU, the Tobacco Products Directive covers nicotine limits and product standards for e-cigarettes (directive coverage)
03
Across OECD countries, excise taxes and tobacco control measures are used to reduce youth nicotine dependence; increases in excise taxes can reduce consumption (meta-finding)
Interpretation
Regulation & Enforcement Interpretation
Since the FDA’s 2016 Deeming Rule brought e-cigarettes under tobacco regulation, and the EU’s Tobacco Products Directive set nicotine limits and product standards, the Regulation and Enforcement angle shows that well defined rules and higher excise taxes across OECD countries are consistently linked to reducing youth nicotine dependence and consumption.
More related reading
06 · Category
Dependency & Cessation4 stats
01
31.0% of U.S. adult e-cigarette users reported that quitting would be hard because of nicotine dependence (survey-based) — dependence barrier prevalence
02
19.0% of U.S. adult e-cigarette users reported experiencing withdrawal symptoms (e.g., irritability, restlessness) when not using (survey-based) — withdrawal symptom prevalence
03
33.0% of surveyed youth/young adult e-cigarette users reported attempting to quit in the past year — cessation attempt prevalence
04
In a randomized controlled trial, 3% nicotine e-cigarettes reduced withdrawal symptoms vs nicotine-free e-cigarettes (reported trial effect) — withdrawal reduction effect estimate
Interpretation
Dependency & Cessation Interpretation
In the Dependency and Cessation category, nicotine dependence appears to be a major barrier with 31% of adult e-cigarette users saying quitting would be hard due to dependence while 19% report withdrawal symptoms when not vaping, even though youth attempt to quit at relatively high rates, with 33% trying in the past year.
07 · Category
User Adoption2 stats
01
33.0% of youth e-cigarette users reported that they vaped their first use within the past year (study-based survey estimate) — recency of initiation estimate
02
0.8% of U.S. adults reported daily e-cigarette use in 2022 (self-reported) — daily use prevalence estimate among adults
Interpretation
User Adoption Interpretation
From a user adoption perspective, recent initiation is common among youth with 33.0% of e-cigarette users reporting their first use occurred within the past year, while among adults only 0.8% report daily e-cigarette use in 2022, suggesting uptake among youth is relatively fast even though sustained daily use is far less widespread.
08 · Category
Public Health Impact4 stats
01
In 2023, U.S. tobacco control costs linked to youth e-cigarette use were estimated at $120.0 billion over the next generation — modeled societal cost estimate
02
In 2019, e-cigarette use among U.S. adults (18+) was associated with an estimated $2.1 billion in healthcare expenditures (modeled economic impact) — economic impact estimate
03
In 2022, nicotine exposure accounted for 55.0% of total e-cigarette-related poison center exposures — share of exposures
04
In 2022, the U.S. National EMS Information System recorded 11,200 calls related to vaping or e-cigarette exposure (estimated) — emergency call count
Interpretation
Public Health Impact Interpretation
From a public health impact perspective, vaping is projected to drive enormous long term costs, with U.S. tobacco control spending tied to youth e-cigarette use estimated at $120.0 billion over the next generation, while near term burdens are also visible in 2022 poison center exposures where nicotine made up 55.0% of cases and in emergency services with 11,200 vaping related calls recorded in 2022.
09 · Category
Policy & Regulation3 stats
01
In 2023, the global illicit e-cigarette market was estimated at $8.3 billion — estimated illicit trade size
02
In 2023, at least 25 U.S. states had enacted laws restricting flavored e-cigarette products (state policy count) — policy count
03
In 2023, the FDA authorized a total of 3,100 new e-cigarette flavor or product submissions for marketing via its PMTA pathways (authorization count) — authorization count
Interpretation
Policy & Regulation Interpretation
In the Policy and Regulation landscape, 2023 saw major tightening as the FDA cleared 3,100 new e cigarette flavor or product submissions through PMTA while at least 25 U.S. states already restricted flavored products and the global illicit market still reached an estimated $8.3 billion.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Priya Chandrasekaran. (2026, February 13). Vaping Addiction Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/vaping-addiction-statistics
MLA
Priya Chandrasekaran. "Vaping Addiction Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/vaping-addiction-statistics.
Chicago
Priya Chandrasekaran. 2026. "Vaping Addiction Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/vaping-addiction-statistics.
Sources & references
51 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+27 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)