E-cigarette use among U.S. middle and high school students varies by age, sex, and race/ethnicity—and flavored, disposable products make up a large part of the picture. This page connects nicotine exposure to adolescent brain development and reviews short-term health harms, including cough or bronchitis and EVALI. You’ll also see how enforcement and flavor policies can shift youth use and public attitudes over time.
Key Takeaways
- 68% of U.S. youth aware of e-cigarette harms per 2023 Truth Initiative survey
- 78% of youth support flavor bans on e-cigs per 2022 American Lung Association poll
- Only 22% of high school vapers perceive e-cigs less harmful than cigs in 2023 NYTS
- High school males 12% more likely to vape than females, with 10.8% vs 9.4% in 2023 NYTS
- Non-Hispanic White youth highest e-cig use at 11.4% among high schoolers 2023 NYTS
- Hispanic middle school students 2.1% current e-cig use in 2023 NYTS
- 89.4% of youth e-cig users preferred flavored products in 2023 NYTS
- Disposable e-cigarettes used by 86.9% of current youth vapers in 2023 NYTS
- Fruit flavors top choice for 55.6% of high school e-cig users 2023 NYTS
- E-cigarette use causes acute lung injury (EVALI) with over 2,800 hospitalizations among youth by 2020 per CDC
- Youth vapers have 2.7 times higher odds of cough or bronchitis per 2022 cross-sectional study
- Nicotine in e-cigs harms adolescent brain development, affecting attention and learning per Surgeon General 2020 report
- In 2023, 2.13 million U.S. middle and high school students (7.7%) reported current e-cigarette use in the past 30 days according to the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS)
- Among high school students in 2023 NYTS, 10.0% (1.84 million) reported current e-cigarette use, with a significant portion using daily
- Middle school current e-cigarette use was 1.8% (290,000 students) in 2023 per NYTS, showing a slight decline from prior years
Youth vaping remains widespread and flavored, with evidence linking e cigarettes to serious lung and brain harm.
Related reading
01 · Category
Awareness Attitudes Prevention27 stats
01
68% of U.S. youth aware of e-cigarette harms per 2023 Truth Initiative survey
02
78% of youth support flavor bans on e-cigs per 2022 American Lung Association poll
03
Only 22% of high school vapers perceive e-cigs less harmful than cigs in 2023 NYTS
04
FDA's 2020 flavor enforcement reduced youth JUUL use by 60% per study
05
45% of non-vaping youth tried to quit friends from vaping per Truth 2023
06
School tobacco policies cover 95% of students but enforcement varies per CDC 2022
07
87% of youth believe e-cigs cause addiction per 2021 YRBS perceptions data
08
Truth Initiative campaigns reached 90% of U.S. youth with anti-vaping ads 2018-2023
09
Price increase of 20% on e-cigs reduces youth use by 12% per 2022 econ study
10
55% of parents discuss vaping risks with kids annually per 2023 ALA survey
11
Menthol ban support 72% among Black youth per 2022 Truth poll
12
E-cig warning labels increase quit intentions by 25% in youth per 2021 trial
13
40 states have flavor restrictions but only 10 fully enforce per 2023 ALA
14
Youth quitline calls up 300% post-FDA enforcement 2019-2021 per CDC
15
62% of vapers want to quit but only 12% succeed without help per Truth 2023
16
School-based interventions reduce vaping initiation by 40% per 2022 meta-analysis
17
75% of youth overestimate nicotine content safety in e-cigs per FDA 2022
18
National media campaigns cut youth e-cig use 15% 2019-2022 per eval
19
Retail license revocation in 5 states led to 20% drop in nearby youth use 2021-2023
20
81% support raising tobacco purchase age to 21, passed in 2019 per ALA 2020
21
Peer-led anti-vaping programs effective in 65% of schools per CDC 2023
22
34% of vapers cite health concerns as quit reason per 2023 NYTS follow-up
23
Graphic ads increase harm perceptions by 30% in youth per 2022 RCT
24
28 states require cessation programs in schools post-2020 per CDC
25
Youth support for vape taxes 69% per 2023 Cato poll
26
Digital interventions via apps reduce vaping by 22% in 6-month trial 2022
27
92% of teachers report discussing vaping in class per NEA 2023 survey
Interpretation
Awareness Attitudes Prevention Interpretation
Although awareness and prevention support are relatively strong, with 68% of U.S. youth recognizing e-cigarette harms and 78% backing flavor bans, the fact that only 22% of high school vapers think e-cigs are less harmful shows that changing attitudes is still a major gap that policy enforcement and school efforts like the 95% coverage need to address more consistently.
02 · Category
Demographics25 stats
01
High school males 12% more likely to vape than females, with 10.8% vs 9.4% in 2023 NYTS
02
Non-Hispanic White youth highest e-cig use at 11.4% among high schoolers 2023 NYTS
03
Hispanic middle school students 2.1% current e-cig use in 2023 NYTS
04
12th graders had 12.6% past-month e-cig use in 2023 Monitoring the Future survey
05
Urban high school students 11.2% e-cig use vs 8.9% rural in 2023 NYTS analysis
06
LGBTQ+ youth 25% higher e-cig use odds per 2022 CDC Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)
07
10th grade e-cig use 9.8% in 2023 Monitoring the Future
08
Black high schoolers 7.1% e-cig use, lower than whites but higher than Asians 5.6% 2023 NYTS
09
Females in 8th grade 2.1% vs males 2.5% middle school e-cig use 2023 NYTS
10
Low-income youth (<$35k household) 12.5% e-cig use vs 7.2% high-income 2023 NYTS
11
9th graders 11.5% e-cig use highest among high school grades 2023 NYTS
12
Asian American high school e-cig use lowest at 5.6% in 2023 NYTS
13
11th graders 10.2% past-month e-cig in 2023 Monitoring the Future
14
Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander youth 9.8% e-cig use 2023 NYTS subset
15
Suburban youth 10.5% vs exurban 9.1% high school e-cig use per 2022 YRBS
16
8th grade e-cig use 3.7% in 2023 Monitoring the Future
17
Multiracial high schoolers 10.9% e-cig use 2023 NYTS
18
Males in rural areas 9.5% vs urban 11.0% e-cig use 2023 NYTS
19
20.4% of bisexual high school students vaped in 2021 YRBS
20
12% of youth with asthma history vape vs 8% without per 2023 Truth
21
Southern U.S. states average 11.3% high school e-cig use 2023 NYTS regional
22
7th graders 1.2% e-cig use lowest middle school 2023 NYTS
23
Gay/lesbian youth 18.2% e-cig use vs 9.6% straight 2021 YRBS
24
Northeast U.S. 9.8% high school e-cig vs West 10.5% 2023 NYTS
25
Overweight youth 11.8% e-cig use vs normal weight 9.2% per 2022 YRBS
Interpretation
Demographics Interpretation
From a demographics perspective, youth vaping is not evenly distributed, with groups such as 12th graders at 12.6% past-month use and LGBTQ+ youth showing 25% higher odds standing out compared with other populations in the 2023 NYTS and 2022 CDC YRBS data.
03 · Category
Flavors And Products30 stats
01
89.4% of youth e-cig users preferred flavored products in 2023 NYTS
02
Disposable e-cigarettes used by 86.9% of current youth vapers in 2023 NYTS
03
Fruit flavors top choice for 55.6% of high school e-cig users 2023 NYTS
04
Menthol/mint used by 28.1% of youth e-cig users in 2023 NYTS
05
Candy/dessert flavors 25.4% preference among middle school vapers 2023 NYTS
06
Elf Bar most popular brand used by 30.2% of high school vapers 2023 NYTS
07
81.9% of youth users vaped flavored non-tobacco e-cigs in 2023 NYTS
08
Pod-based systems like JUUL used by 47.1% high schoolers before decline 2019-2023 NYTS trend
09
15.3% used tobacco-flavored e-cigs, least popular in 2023 NYTS youth
10
Disposable vapes rose from 26.5% in 2020 to 86.9% in 2023 per NYTS
11
Mango flavor 22.4% among top fruits for high school vapers 2023 NYTS
12
62% of youth cite flavor as main reason for e-cig use per 2022 Truth survey
13
Puff Bar/Elf Bar disposables 55% market share among youth 2023 NYTS brands
14
Chocolate/candy flavors used by 20.1% middle school e-cig users 2023 NYTS
15
Nicotine salt pods in 38% of high school vapers' devices 2023 NYTS
16
90.6% of flavored e-cig users would quit if only tobacco flavors available per FDA 2021 study
17
Blueberry flavor 18.7% preference in disposables 2023 NYTS
18
Tank/mod systems used by only 4.2% youth vs disposables 86.9% 2023 NYTS
19
5% nicotine strength most common at 45.3% among high school vapers 2023 NYTS
20
Menthol e-cigs 2x more used by Black youth 28% vs overall 2023 NYTS
21
73% of youth unaware high-nicotine disposables equal pack-a-day cigs per Truth 2023
22
Strawberry flavor 16.5% in top fruit choices 2023 NYTS high school
23
Pre-filled pods declined to 36.1% from 55% 2020-2023 NYTS
24
12-18 mg/ml nicotine in 30% disposables used by youth per 2022 lab analysis
25
95.2% of youth vapers used sweet flavors exclusively in 2021 FDA survey
26
Breeze flavors popular in 10.8% Elf Bar users among youth 2023 NYTS
27
33 states saw disposable use >80% in youth by 2023 per NYTS state data
28
Only 1.1% used tobacco-only flavors, showing youth aversion per 2023 NYTS
29
50mg/ml nicotine disposables used by 25% high schoolers 2023 NYTS
30
61% of youth and young adults believe e-cig flavors help quit smoking per 2021 FDA
Interpretation
Flavors And Products Interpretation
In the Flavors And Products category, the 2023 NYTS shows that 89.4% of youth e-cig users preferred flavored products, with fruit leading at 55.6% among high school users and disposables driving use for 86.9% of current youth vapers.
More related reading
04 · Category
Health Risks26 stats
01
E-cigarette use causes acute lung injury (EVALI) with over 2,800 hospitalizations among youth by 2020 per CDC
02
Youth vapers have 2.7 times higher odds of cough or bronchitis per 2022 cross-sectional study
03
Nicotine in e-cigs harms adolescent brain development, affecting attention and learning per Surgeon General 2020 report
04
40% of youth e-cig users report addiction symptoms like strong cravings per Truth Initiative 2023 survey
05
Vaping linked to 1.5 times increased asthma risk in youth per 2021 meta-analysis
06
EVALI outbreak 2019-2020: 68 deaths, majority under 35, many youth vapers per CDC
07
Youth e-cig use associated with depression: 2x odds per 2023 NYTS-linked study
08
Vitamin E acetate in THC vapes caused 82% of EVALI cases among youth per CDC 2020
09
Daily youth vaping doubles risk of future cigarette smoking per NEJM longitudinal study
10
E-cigs expose youth to cancer-causing chemicals like formaldehyde at levels 15x higher than cigs per study
11
25% of high school vapers report frequent anxiety per 2022 Truth survey
12
Acute nicotine poisoning cases in youth rose 91% 2018-2022 per Poison Control data
13
Vaping aerosols contain metals like lead at 10-50x environmental levels in youth lungs per 2021 study
14
Youth vapers 4x more likely to develop chronic cough per 2023 Pediatrics study
15
EVALI symptoms in youth: shortness of breath 83%, fever 81% per CDC case series
16
Nicotine dependence in non-smoker youth vapers: 30% per 2020 JAMA Pediatrics
17
Vaping increases heart rate by 20-30 bpm in adolescents per 2019 Circulation study
18
68% of hospitalized EVALI patients under 25 were daily vapers per CDC 2020 update
19
Youth exposed to ultrafine particles from vapes causing inflammation per 2022 Env Health study
20
E-cig flavorings like cinnamaldehyde toxic to lung cells at youth vaping concentrations per 2021 Tox Sci
21
3x higher odds of myocardial ischemia in young vapers per 2023 case-control
22
Seizures reported in 121 youth under 25 from nicotine e-liquids 2010-2019 per FDA
23
COPD risk elevated 2.5x in adolescent vapers per 2022 cohort study
24
Oral health decline: gum inflammation 2x in youth vapers per 2021 JADA study
25
DNA damage from e-cig carcinogens in youth bronchial cells per 2020 Cancer Res
26
Sleep disruption: youth vapers 1.5x more insomnia per 2023 Sleep Med
Interpretation
Health Risks Interpretation
Health risks from youth vaping are clear and escalating, with e-cigarette associated EVALI driving over 2,800 youth hospitalizations by 2020 and an additional 68 deaths in the 2019 to 2020 outbreak, while studies also show higher respiratory harm and addiction symptoms.
05 · Category
Usage Prevalence30 stats
01
In 2023, 2.13 million U.S. middle and high school students (7.7%) reported current e-cigarette use in the past 30 days according to the National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS)
02
Among high school students in 2023 NYTS, 10.0% (1.84 million) reported current e-cigarette use, with a significant portion using daily
03
Middle school current e-cigarette use was 1.8% (290,000 students) in 2023 per NYTS, showing a slight decline from prior years
04
From 2019 to 2023, high school e-cigarette use dropped from 27.5% to 10.0% according to NYTS data analyzed by CDC
05
In 2022 NYTS, 14.1% of high school students used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days
06
Daily e-cigarette use among high school students reached 3.3% (about 600,000) in 2023 NYTS
07
89.4% of youth e-cigarette users in 2023 used flavored products per NYTS
08
Past 30-day e-cigarette use among high school males was 10.8% vs. 9.4% females in 2023 NYTS
09
Non-Hispanic White high school students had 11.4% current e-cig use in 2023 NYTS, highest among races
10
1 in 5 high school students who never smoked cigarettes regularly used e-cigarettes in 2023 per NYTS
11
E-cigarette use peaked at 27.5% among high schoolers in 2019 NYTS before declining
12
In 2021 NYTS, 11.3% high school students reported current e-cig use
13
Youth e-cig use associated with marijuana use: 25.7% of users also used cannabis in 2023 NYTS
14
Frequent use (20+ days/month) among high school e-cig users was 38.5% in 2023 NYTS
15
2020 NYTS showed 19.6% high school current e-cig use during early pandemic
16
Middle school e-cig use declined from 5.3% in 2019 to 1.8% in 2023 per NYTS
17
85.9% of middle school e-cig users used flavored products in 2023 NYTS
18
Hispanic high school students had 9.2% e-cig use in 2023 NYTS
19
Black high school students reported 7.1% current e-cig use in 2023 NYTS
20
In 2018 NYTS, high school e-cig use was 20.8%
21
1.6 million youth used e-cigarettes daily or nearly daily in 2023 equivalent per Truth Initiative analysis of NYTS
22
2023 NYTS: 10% of 12th graders used e-cigarettes past month per Monitoring the Future cross-reference
23
Decline in disposable e-cig use from 89% to 86.9% among youth users 2022-2023 NYTS
24
26.3% of past 30-day youth e-cig users used on 20+ days in 2022 NYTS
25
High school e-cig use higher in urban areas at 11.2% vs. rural 8.9% in 2023 NYTS subset
26
2017 NYTS baseline high school e-cig use 13.2%
27
Youth dual use of e-cigs and cigarettes: 5.2% high schoolers in 2023 NYTS
28
Middle school daily use 0.6% in 2023 NYTS
29
2024 preliminary NYTS data shows continued decline to 9.4% high school use
30
E-cig use initiation before age 18 for 88% of adult users per 2023 CDC analysis
Interpretation
Usage Prevalence Interpretation
For the Usage Prevalence angle, current e-cigarette use among U.S. middle and high school students fell to 7.7% in 2023 from much higher levels earlier in the decade, dropping for high school students from 27.5% in 2019 to 10.0% in 2023 even as daily use persisted at 3.3%.
report visual · Projection
Youth vaping prevalence (past 30 days)
Past-30-day current e-cigarette use among U.S. high school students fell over time, peaking in 2019 and declining to the lowest level in 2023.
15.8 Percent of U.S. high school students (grades 9–12) reporting current e-cigarette use in the past 30 days
Start
-9.48%
CAGR · 5y
9.6 Percent of U.S. high school students (grades 9–12) reporting current e-cigarette use in the past 30 days
Projected
20182023
source-verifiedcdc.gov2023
Reference
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APA
Sophie Moreland. (2026, February 13). Youth Vaping Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/youth-vaping-statistics
MLA
Sophie Moreland. "Youth Vaping Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/youth-vaping-statistics.
Chicago
Sophie Moreland. 2026. "Youth Vaping Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/youth-vaping-statistics.