U.S. Teen Girls Outpace Boys in Vaping

Recent studies point to several concerns about vaping across age groups. A national analysis found high-nicotine e-cigarette use rose among young adults from 2017 to 2022; by 2022, nearly half of daily vapers ages 18 to 24 used products with at least 4% nicotine, and high-nicotine use was associated with greater dependence and more persistent vaping. Separately, researchers found that regular vaping among girls ages 15 to 17 surpassed boys’ rates beginning in 2021, reaching 7.8% in 2024, though the study did not determine why the gap reversed. In a small study of adults ages 18 to 30, both vaping and cigarette smoking were associated with roughly 15% lower peak exercise capacity than in participants who had never used either product, along with signs of blood-vessel inflammation. Together, the findings highlight concerns about nicotine dependence among young adults, changing patterns of teen vaping, and possible effects of vaping on physical fitness.