“I look at them in disbelief because they’re just shaking. It’s like ‘What’s up with you? Are you alright? Do you need something?’” That was a typical day for Marc when he worked at a smoke shop. “My nic. I haven’t had any nicotine. I need nicotine,” the customers would tell him. He had seen the panic, desperation and physical dependence before. Marc (who is using a pseudonym to protect his privacy) knows it because he’s just like them. He was a heavy cigarette smoker and started vaping to quit smoking. It was when he started seeing the dependence his customers had on vaping that Marc realized how deep this problem had run.
What had seemed once like a trend was now something darker and bigger: the vaping epidemic was growing, and it was taking a toll on the younger generation. Since JUUL, vaping culture has evolved rapidly throughout the years. New products are continuously hitting the shelves, with nicotine levels increasing and harmful pesticides turning up in their ingredients, according to the American Heart Association. While the common thought is that vaping isn’t as bad as smoking, the reality is it’s still harmful—especially for young people, who the industry has historically targeted, through its colorful packaging and appealing flavors.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1.63 million middle and high school students reported using e-cigarettes in 2022. While the prevailing belief has been that youth vaping rates are steadily increasing, recent data shows a significant decline in overall usage compared to previous years. Still, a significant number of those vaping do so regularly, with about 26% of youth e-cigarette users vaping daily, according to the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey.
With a new generation of vapes appearing on the market, like Elf Bars and Geek Bars, these disposable flavored vape products remain popular among teens and young adults—keeping the target groups of young users at risk of developing long term habits. Youth may not be aware that many of the e-liquids used in nicotine vapes lack FDA approval. According to Truth Initiative, certain disposable e-cigarettes have been found to contain potentially harmful chemicals, such as synthetic cooling agents, that aren’t regulated. Meanwhile, cannabis vaporizers also pose risks, as a June 2024 Los Angeles Times report found that a pink acai Stiiizy pod contained 60 times the maximum amount of pymetrozine allowed by federal regulators in cigarettes. This revelation has sparked concerns over the quality control processes regulating both nicotine and cannabis products. The lack of oversight on many vape products raises questions about the threatening risks young users face, with the ingredients inside often being a total mystery. But is this news enough to keep young people from smoking? Is the rush or high worth the long-term effects that may be irreversible?
Like Marc, Emilio Navarro is one of those kids who got hooked early on. His first year of junior high, he was hanging out with a group of upperclassmen when his friend Sage pulled out a mint-flavored JUUL. Sage passed it around until eventually it reached Navarro. Young, curious and easily influenced, he hesitated before hitting it, unsure of what would happen. But deep down, he wanted to feel something different. After inhaling it for three seconds—he started to cough—gasping for air. Immediately, he had an intense feeling of lightheadedness, and both his legs went numb to the point he could not move or walk for about 30 seconds. The feeling slowly started to return to his legs and his head stopped feeling like a balloon. That was his first time trying out a vape, but it wouldn’t be his last. He became completely addicted to the lightheaded feeling that the JUUL gave him, and ever since then, he has been chasing that sensation. That was in 2016—a year after JUUL first surfaced. He kept vaping regularly at least four times a week throughout junior high. It continued in high school when he increased his vaping regularly to five times a week.
This is a stark reminder of how quickly youth can become addicted to substances. The psychological effects are magnified with peer pressure, as adolescents often feel compelled to conform to group behaviors, leading to choices they might not otherwise make. The desire to fit in and gain social acceptance can overshadow health concerns, especially when using products deemed “cool” by peers.
When Emilio was going to work at Mr. Fries Man next to Fullerton College, he would get intense chest pains that he believed was only stress from work. Later on, he realized this was a side effect from smoking JUUL. One night, his chest pain got so bad that he told his parents he needed to go to the hospital. The doctors ran tests and X-rays and found that Emilio’s left lung had partially collapsed. They gave him drugs to help numb the pain and performed surgery to repair his lung, but the doctor told him it would never function completely the same again. Despite this, it did not stop Emilio from continuing to vape.
The health consequences of vaping extend beyond collapsed lungs. Vaping can lead to cardiovascular disease and the development of asthma. Other side effects from vaping include nausea, vomiting and wheezing. The impacts can also be more than just physical. A study by the AHA involving over 2,500 people aged 13 to 24 revealed that nicotine-only vapers, THC-only vapers and dual users were more likely to report anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts compared to their peers who did not vape. Over half of the nicotine-only and THC-only vapers reported symptoms of depression, compared to just 25% of non-vapers.
Kimberly Martin, a specialist at the American Lung Association, says, “Vape use, especially nicotine-infused vapes, is associated with higher levels of ADHD symptoms.” Many of these users, like Navarro, are already grappling with depression at a young age. “The overall health impacts range from collapsed lungs. There is now compelling evidence that smoking vapes leads to worse, not better, mental health,” says Martin.
Since JUUL Labs Inc. was founded on May 22, 2015, the company has paved the way for what vaping culture is today. A study from the National Institutes of Health reported that JUUL’s appealing flavors made it particularly attractive to youth. JUUL was the first to introduce e-liquid cartridges with a variety of flavors to choose from, including crème brûlée, fruit medley and mango. The Addiction Prevention Coalition noted that JUUL employed marketing tactics aimed at younger audiences, including emotional appeals, celebrity endorsements and eye-catching cartoons and animations on social media. Working at his vape shop, Marc says JUUL attracted young customers because it was easy to carry and looked like a flash drive—the ideal product for a student in need of discreetness and portability.
As advocates and federal regulators continue to search for solutions to reduce youth vaping, several targeted initiatives are underway, including efforts to increase the legal sale age and educational campaigns aimed at youth. The AHA suggests raising the minimum age to purchase in all states to 21 to limit access. #DoTheVapeTalk is a youth prevention campaign that provides parents with resources to discuss vaping’s dangers. The AHA has also proposed the Vape-Free Schools initiative to support students who have been impacted by vaping.
The FDA has taken steps to combat the vaping epidemic by banning flavored e-cigarettes, sending warning letters to manufacturers and retailers who illegally sell these products, and working with the Justice Department to take legal action against six manufacturers to stop them from making and selling unauthorized e-cigarettes. In 2018 alone, the FDA issued warning letters and levied fines against 1,300 retailers and five major manufacturers for illegal sales to youth.
These efforts have begun to show results. According to the CDC, teen vaping rates have dropped by about 60% since 2019. Although this decline indicates a positive development, the vaping crisis remains far from resolved. Heavy metals such as nickel, tin and lead are not filtered out in vapes, potentially leading to catastrophic lung failure and hospitalizations. There have also been incidents of batteries in vaping devices exploding and causing serious injuries and burns. A severe lung condition linked to vaping called EVALI (e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury) has resulted in extensive lung damage, coughing and shortness of breath, putting many young people in emergency rooms. In the most dismal cases, vaping can kill you––as shown in the 68 vaping-linked deaths among teenagers.
Today, vapes have evolved into sleek, modern devices. What everyone is using in 2024 is the Geek Bar Pulse, which carries a smart display and two selectable vaping modes. While the display shows you when you’ll need to charge the battery and the number of remaining puffs it has, certain devices also let users play games like Pac-Man and Flappy Bird. Navarro, now 26, has switched from JUULs to Puff Bars and admits he still vapes, but not as frequently as he did in high school. After a period of declining mental health near the end of 2023, he adopted a healthier lifestyle and started a routine of regular exercise and proper nutrition. This change has improved his overall well-being.
Marc, who left the smoke shop several months ago, is now pursuing his passion for music as a drummer in a band. Meanwhile, he continues to vape on occasion to cope with stress, though he knows it may not be the best solution for him in the long run. He doesn’t see himself vaping forever, and he says he knows that he can put it down. “Step away from the crowd. If you’re trying to be like everyone else, at the end of the day, you just end up being a follower,” he says.
