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Youth

Teen Vaping Linked to Increased Cigarette Smoking Among Youths

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Teenagers who use e-cigarettes are smoking traditional cigarettes at rates not seen since the 1970s, prompting concerns that vaping may be leading a new generation into tobacco addiction. According to researchers from the University of Michigan, while cigarette use among teens has dropped significantly over the past five decades, the story is very different for those who vape. Among that group, around one in three also smoke cigarettes, echoing the levels recorded back in 1974. Dr. Jessica Mongilio noted that the uptick in e-cigarette use, especially by teens and young adults, is likely contributing to the plateauing of overall nicotine use declines.

Key Takeaways:

  • Among teenagers who vape, around one in three also smoke cigarettes.
  • This rate is similar to the levels recorded back in 1974.
  • Dr. Mongilio's study found that e-cigarette use was driving the high probabilities of cigarette smoking among high-risk teens.
  • The decline in the likelihood of cigarette smoking has waned for youth who have used e-cigarettes.
  • Among current vapers, 33% smoke cigarettes weekly, compared to 2% among those who had never vaped.
  • The number of 11- to 15-year-olds using e-cigarettes has doubled in recent years.
  • Selling vapes to under-18s has been illegal since 2015, but one in three young people will have tried vaping by age 15.

Statistics:

  • 1.5% of young people currently smoke traditional cigarettes.
  • 33% of current vapers smoke cigarettes weekly.
  • 2% of 17-year-olds who had never vaped smoke cigarettes weekly.
  • 10% of those who have experimented with vaping smoke cigarettes weekly.
  • The number of 11- to 15-year-olds using e-cigarettes has doubled in recent years.

Sources:

  • Departure from original source date and "this newspaper," changed to original Bmj Journal link for accuracy: (https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2025/07/23/tc-2024-059212)
  • This research is published in the BMJ Journal: (https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/early/2025/07/23/tc-2024-059212)

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