Study: Teenage addiction to vapes is on the rise

According to a study published in the journal JAMA Network Open, between 2020 and 2024, the proportion of daily vape users among teens in the US nearly doubled from 15.4% to 28.8%. Of those, 53% reported trying to quit but failing - nearly double the 2020 rate.

More than 115,000 teens aged 13-18 participated in the study. The goal of the study is to examine how nicotine addiction changes among youth as the overall number of vapers declines. Researchers note that attachment to nicotine increases among those who continue to vape - a phenomenon they call "addiction hardening."

"The increase in daily vaping and the number of unsuccessful quit attempts is a wake-up call for doctors and public health professionals. It suggests a severe form of nicotine addiction in young people," said paediatrician Abby Masonbrink, author of the study.

Modern e-cigarettes contain high doses of nicotine and allow it to enter the body quickly. Young people often don't realise how serious an addiction they can develop.

"Newer models of vape devices are more powerful, with higher concentrations of nicotine," Masonbrink emphasises. - This increases the risk of addiction, especially if vapes are used daily."

It also found that teens who vape are more likely to combine them with alcohol and cannabis, which increases the risk of complications. Daily addiction rose particularly sharply among young people from rural areas, from 16.4 per cent to 41.8 per cent over 4 years.

The study confirms: many young people want to quit but don't get enough support. Most try to cope on their own. However, with daily consumption, there is little chance of success without treatment.

Medics remind: there are effective medication-based treatments for nicotine addiction, including drugs like varenicline. However, teens and their parents are often unaware of these options.

"If we want to reduce addiction, we need to improve awareness, increase access to treatment and develop prevention campaigns," Masonbrink concludes.