Young people start smoking or using tobacco products for many reasons — to act older, be independent, fit in, relieve stress, rebel against adults and (sometimes) imitate their parents.
However, nicotine, the addictive drug found in regular cigarettes and other tobacco products, can harm developing brains and cause problems with learning, attention and memory. It’s illegal to sell or supply any tobacco product to anyone under 21 in the United States as of December 2019.
Electronic cigarettes are now the most widely used form of tobacco for U.S. youth. These devices are also known as vapes, e-cigs, mods, e-hookahs, tank systems or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), among other terms. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine and some contain other harmful chemicals.
On average, 10% of high school students and nearly 5% of middle school students use e-cigarettes, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The vast majority use flavored vaping devices that taste like fruit or candy.
