Youth Vaping: Understanding the Epidemic and How Schools Are Responding
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Surgeon General has officially declared youth vaping an ongoing “epidemic,” releasing a Youth Vaping Resource Guide this week to raise awareness about the growing problem.
The concern isn’t unfounded. According to a recent poll by C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan, 56% of U.S. parents view smoking and vaping as significant problems for children and teens. Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that over 1.6 million U.S. students used vapes from 2023 to 2024—a practice that can quickly lead to addiction.
Vaping Is Not Just a Teen Rebellion
Contrary to common stereotypes, teens who vape are not just “rebellious” or low-performing students. Jennifer Folkenroth, senior director of nationwide tobacco programs at the American Lung Association, explained to ABC News that vaping has changed the profile of young users.
“Kids who were using traditional cigarettes in the past, they really were the rebels,” Folkenroth said. “We saw a huge evolution when e-cigarettes were released on the market over a decade ago. … They now are the college-driven, the aspirational, the key students and athletes of the school districts.”
In short, vaping has become deeply embedded in teen culture today.
Accessibility and Safety Concerns
School officials are sounding alarms about how easily students can access vaping devices. Grant Rivera, superintendent of Marietta City Schools in Georgia, shared a recent experience at a middle school. A school resource officer showed him three gallon-sized Ziploc bags full of vapes—“just the ones we caught,” he emphasized.
The dangers are real. Students have been reported passing out or losing consciousness after vaping, sometimes requiring emergency medical care. Rivera stressed that addressing vaping is now as critical a safety initiative as active shooter drills or fire evacuations.
Why Vaping Can Be Worse Than Smoking
Many parents assume vaping is safer than traditional cigarettes, but medical experts warn otherwise. Vapes, or e-cigarettes, are battery-operated devices that deliver an aerosol containing flavorings, chemicals, and addictive substances like nicotine or cannabis.
Dr. Rachel Boykan, a pediatric hospitalist and member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Tobacco Consortium, explained that modern vape devices can contain nicotine equivalent to 600 cigarettes—or about 30 packs—in a single device. Daily use among students is common, reflecting high rates of addiction.
“Even if it’s 6%, that’s like one in 15 kids, one in every classroom, who has this problem,” Boykan said. “That’s a lot of kids in general that need help.”
Vaping at a young age can lead to long-term habits that affect mental health, worsen anxiety and depression, and even increase the likelihood of further substance use.
Schools Take Action
Schools are experimenting with multiple strategies to reduce vaping. One approach is technology-based detection. Marietta City Schools installed 54 Halo vape detectors in middle and high school bathrooms, where students often vape.
“We’re trying to help the kids understand that if they attempt to vape in a bathroom, … we will have an alert, and within seconds, an administrator is there,” Rivera explained.
These devices are part of a growing trend. Thousands of schools nationwide are using smart sensors to deter vaping and monitor broader health and safety issues. Funding often comes from grants and settlements, such as Marietta’s $70,000 from a Georgia Department of Education grant and a Juul lawsuit settlement.
However, the American Lung Association cautions against relying solely on technology. Teens should not be punished for addiction driven by aggressive marketing and appealing flavors. Folkenroth advocates for science-backed education, youth activism, and policy efforts to hold the tobacco industry accountable.
A Community Approach Is Key
Ultimately, tackling youth vaping requires support from all corners of a child’s environment. Schools, medical professionals, and families must work together to help students overcome addiction.
Boykan emphasized, “If we don’t recognize that they have a problem and support them, then we have done nothing.” Medical support, school counseling, and community resources are all essential to addressing this epidemic.
For teens and families looking to quit vaping, HHS recommends contacting the CDC hotline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or texting 88709 with the keyword DITCHVAPE, run by the nonprofit Truth Initiative.
Nicotine Addiction Can Be Overcome
Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances available, and any device or product that delivers the substance is fueling that addiction. Though some forms of nicotine delivery might not be as harmful to a user’s health as traditional cigarettes, it is not safe to say that vaping is one of them. We simply don’t know enough about these e-cigarettes or e-liquids to speak to their long-term effects. What we have learned over the past few months is alarming, and it’s a reminder that every addiction has consequences.
Coping with a nicotine addiction isn’t easy, but it is most definitely possible. Being nicotine-free is something anyone can accomplish. It requires discipline and commitment, and it helps if you work with an addiction professional who knows what works and what doesn’t. You don’t need to go it alone.
Contact R&A Therapeutic Partners for Help
At R&A Therapeutic Partners, we believe that everyone can overcome addiction, regardless of how long or how much they have used a substance. We assess each client’s unique needs, so we can give them the tools to succeed. Smoking and other nicotine delivery devices are some of the biggest killers in the United States. Ending your addiction will vastly improve your chances of living a longer, healthier life.
If you are interested in ending your nicotine addiction, R&A Therapeutic Partners can help. Contact our team today by calling 786-933-7260 and scheduling an appointment.
At R&A Therapeutic Partners, Raymond Estefania and Ana Moreno specialize in substance use and mental health disorder evaluations, treatment, intervention, and therapeutic/educational consulting for clients throughout the greater South Florida area, as well as nationally and internationally. For more resources and information, please visit Therapeutic-Partners.com or on Facebook.
At R&A Therapeutic Partners Raymond Estefania and Ana Moreno specialize in substance use and mental health disorder evaluations, treatment, intervention and therapeutic/educational consulting for clients throughout the greater South Florida area, as well as nationally and internationally. For more resources and information please visit Therapeutic-Partners.com or on Facebook.