A fast-expanding trend of e-cigarette use among teenagers is setting off alarms across public-health systems worldwide, as youth vaping surges from North America to Europe and the Pacific. The World Health Organization estimates that at least 15 million children aged 13–15 are now using e-cigarettes globally, and in many countries, teenagers are nine times more likely to vape than adults. What began over a decade ago as a tech-driven alternative for adult smokers has evolved into one of the most pressing youth-health challenges of the 2020s. In the United States, the shift became visible as early as 2011, when 220,000 high-school students reported vaping.
By 2018, that number crossed 3 million, prompting the U.S. Surgeon General to label youth vaping an “epidemic.” Although numbers have dropped since the height of the crisis, the latest 2024 figures still show 1.63 million American middle and high-school students using e-cigarettes, with daily use reported among nearly 27% of teen vapers. Europe exhibits a similar pattern: the 2024 ESPAD survey, which covered 37 countries, found that 44% of 15–16-year-olds had tried e-cigarettes at least once, with national figures reaching as high as 57% in Central Europe. In the United Kingdom alone, nearly 20% of 11–17-year-olds have experimented with vaping, and an estimated 400,000 minors are current users, intensifying pressure on policymakers.
Experts attribute the trend’s deepening to a combination of design innovation, online visibility, and misconceptions. Most teens report being drawn to flavoured products from strawberry ice to chocolate mint, which public-health officials argue are intentionally marketed to appeal to children. Social media plays a major role: a 2024 British survey showed 72% of teenagers said they had seen vape promotions online or in stores.
At the same time, the belief that vaping is “safer” than smoking cigarettes has made it easier for teens to experiment without understanding the risks. Because adult smokers often use e-cigarettes as an attempt to quit combustible tobacco, many teenagers assume the devices are harmless, ignoring the high nicotine levels found in disposable vapes. This misperception, health agencies warn, is particularly dangerous because adolescent brains are still developing, making them more vulnerable to nicotine dependence.
The health impact is becoming clearer. New research links youth vaping to lung irritation, breathing difficulties, cardiovascular stress, and an increased likelihood of future cigarette smoking. Cases of acute lung injury related to vaping have been recorded in several countries, and doctors warn that early nicotine exposure affects concentration, memory and emotional regulation. Beyond health, environmental damage has become another point of concern. The United Kingdom reports more than a million disposable vapes being discarded every day, contributing to plastic pollution and causing fires in recycling facilities due to lithium batteries. Other European countries have reported similar waste-related problems, fuelling debates on whether single-use vapes should be banned entirely.
Governments worldwide are scrambling to respond. The United States raised the minimum purchasing age for e-cigarettes to 21 and the FDA has cracked down on flavoured cartridges. In April 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court backed the FDA’s decision to reject multiple fruit-flavoured e-liquids, noting that nearly 90% of teen vapers use flavoured products. In Europe, Belgium will become the first EU country to ban disposable vapes from January, while the UK has announced its own ban from mid-2025 as part of a broader strategy to create a “smoke-free generation.” Germany, France and Spain are considering similar restrictions, including higher taxes and plain-packaging requirements.
Australia has already moved towards a pharmacy-only model for adult vaping products and has banned imports of disposable vapes, reporting early signs of decline in youth vaping rates though authorities warn of a growing black market. New Zealand has strengthened fines for retailers selling to minors and banned disposable devices, yet its 2024 health survey still shows daily vaping at over 10% among 15–17-year-olds, reflecting the depth of the issue.
Despite these regulatory steps, the global data indicates that the problem is far from contained. WHO estimates more than 100 million people worldwide now vape, with adolescents forming a significant share of that number. Public-health advocates argue that the world is at a crossroads: e-cigarettes could either be tightly controlled as a harm-reduction tool for adults, or they could lock an entirely new generation into lifelong nicotine addiction. For now, the trend among teenagers continues to rise, driven by attractive packaging, aggressive marketing, and the allure of flavours, raising urgent questions about how governments, families, and schools can intervene before the problem becomes even more entrenched.
