LEAF Blog

Whether you're a seasoned vaper or someone who picked up the habit recently, the struggle to quit can feel overwhelming. The nicotine in vapes is addictive, so giving up can be a challenge. However, free support is available to help you—from organizations like LEAF to apps, coaching, patches, and support groups. Whether you’re driven by concerns about your health, the financial cost, or simply a desire to regain control, this guide, based on the government’s smokefree.gov program, will provide the tools, strategies, and support you need to quit vaping for good.

How many young people vape?

A national government survey of 20,000 young people found that about 10% report vaping, making e-cigarettes four times more popular than regular cigarettes or cigars amongst that age group. On the bright side, tobacco use overall continues to decline among young people, and the number of high schoolers vaping dropped from 2022 to 2023.

In New York State, you must be 21 to purchase vape products. However, just as young people have managed for years to get hold of cigarettes, they find ways to access vapes.

Vaping has grown in popularity over the last twenty years. But do you know what ingredients there are in a vape (e-cigarette)? “Vaping” sounds like something to do with water vapor. Well, everyone knows that water is safe. Vapes are filled with “e-juice,” also known as “vape juice.” Well, juice can be good for you, right? In fact, vapes have a fairly long list of worrying ingredients, and you may not even know what some of them are or the impact they could have on your health.

E-cigarette (or vape) use has increased in the last several years, especially among younger smokers. While the risks of cigarette smoking are well known, e-cigarettes are sometimes viewed as a “better” alternative. 

Popular myths (and vape advertisers) have claimed that vaping can help smokers quit traditional (or “combustible”) cigarettes. Is it true?

“In the United States, youth use e-cigarettes, or vapes, more than any other tobacco product,” according to Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Over two million middle- and high-school students reported using e-cigarettes in 2023 (CDC 2024).

Nicotine in any form, however, can damage a young person’s developing brain. Read on to learn how—and what parents, adults, and caregivers can do to help prevent underage vape use.

Most people would likely agree (or at least be aware) that smoking cigarettes isn’t a healthy choice—but what about vaping? 

Vapes, also known as electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes, were introduced to the United States in 2006 and became popular in the 2000s (CASAA n.d.). Many brands saw increased popularity with younger smokers, who were especially drawn to the large selection of flavors. 

Questions of safety continually come up: Is vaping a healthy alternative to smoking cigarettes? Could vaping help a person quit smoking? Does vaping damage the lungs as much as cigarette smoke? Will the secondhand “smoke” from a vape cause the same damage as a cigarette’s?