Clinical Report: Teen girls overtake boys in vaping
Overview
A repeated cross-sectional analysis of US adolescents found that established nicotine vaping among girls aged 15 to 17 years rose after 2021, reaching 7.8% in 2024, while prevalence among boys remained near 4.2% to 4.6%. In contrast, established cigarette smoking declined across the study period, reaching 0.2% overall in 2024.
Background
The study examined nationally representative Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health data across eight survey waves from October 2014 through December 2024, including adolescents aged 12 to 17 years. It assessed established nicotine vaping and combustible cigarette smoking by sex, age, and other demographic characteristics. Established vaping meant fairly regular e-cigarette use in the preceding 30 days; established smoking required a history of smoking more than 100 cigarettes and use in the preceding 30 days. The analysis describes population-level trends and, because it was repeated cross-sectional, does not track individual adolescents’ nicotine-use trajectories.
Data Highlights
| Population and outcome | Period | Prevalence |
|---|---|---|
| Ages 15–17, established vaping, boys | 2014–2015 | 3.1% |
| Ages 15–17, established vaping, girls | 2014–2015 | 1.9% |
| Ages 15–17, established vaping, boys | 2018–2019 | 8.5% |
| Ages 15–17, established vaping, girls | 2018–2019 | 8.2% |
| Ages 15–17, established vaping, girls | 2021 to 2024 | Rose from 4.9% to 7.8% |
| Ages 15–17, established vaping, boys | 2021 to 2024 | Remained relatively stable, 4.2% to 4.6% |
| Ages 12–14, established vaping, girls | 2024 | 1.5% |
| Ages 12–14, established vaping, boys | 2024 | 1.1% |
| All adolescents, established cigarette smoking | 2014–2015 to 2024 | Declined from 1.6% to 0.2% |
| Ages 15–17, established cigarette smoking, boys | 2024 | 0.5% |
| Ages 15–17, established cigarette smoking, girls | 2024 | 0.3% |
Key Findings
- Among adolescents aged 15 to 17 years, established vaping was more prevalent in boys than girls in 2014–2015, but the gap had narrowed by 2018–2019.
- After a decline in 2021, established vaping among older adolescent girls increased to 7.8% in 2024; prevalence among boys was relatively stable at 4.2% to 4.6%.
- Adjusted analyses found statistically significant sex-by-survey-wave and age-by-survey-wave interactions.
- Established vaping among adolescents aged 12 to 14 years remained substantially lower than among those aged 15 to 17 years; 2024 prevalence was 1.5% in girls and 1.1% in boys.
- Established combustible cigarette smoking declined throughout the study, from 1.6% overall in 2014–2015 to 0.2% in 2024.
- The authors noted that the study could not establish causes of changing vaping prevalence; proposed factors such as marketing, risk perceptions, anxiety, and peer influence were not directly evaluated.
Clinical Implications
The authors called for further investigation and urged efforts to explore sex-specific interventions to reduce e-cigarette use among children and adolescents in the United States. The study’s self-reported measures and focus on established use, rather than experimentation or all nicotine exposure, should be considered when interpreting its findings.
Conclusion
In this national analysis, vaping trends diverged by sex among older adolescents, with prevalence rising among girls after 2021, while established cigarette smoking continued to decline. The study identifies a change in population-level patterns but does not determine its causes.
Related Resources & Content
- Sanford BT, Brownstein NC, et al., JAMA Pediatrics, 2026 — Rates of Nicotine Use Among Children and Adolescents
- Maddox R, et al., MDSpire News — Youth Vaping Is "Predictable" by Design
- MDSpire News — Youth Vaping: Comparable to Traditional Smoking, Study
- ADA News — Nicotine vaping in youths reveals concerning habits
- MDSpire News — Teens Quit Vaping via Text, Study Shows
- Rates of Nicotine Use Among Children and Adolescents
- Youth Vaping Is "Predictable" by Design
- Youth Vaping: Comparable to Traditional Smoking, Study
- Nicotine vaping in youths reveals concerning habits
- Results from the Annual National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) | FDA
- Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the United States: Results from the 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health
- Treatment of Nicotine Use in Adolescents Under 18 Years of Age: An Official American Thoracic Society Clinical Practice Guideline | American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine | Oxford Academic
- E-Cigarettes (Vapes) | Smoking and Tobacco Use | CDC
- E-Cigarettes and Vaping Toolkit
- Social Media Support Groups for Youth Nicotine Vaping Cessation: An RCT - PubMed
- Varenicline for Youth Nicotine Vaping Cessation: A Randomized Clinical Trial | Trials | JAMA | JAMA Network
- A systematic review of the effectiveness, safety and acceptance of nicotine replacement therapy use for vaping cessation in youth aged 17 years or younger
Based on findings from:
Teen girls overtake boys in vaping
Andrea Surnit. MDSpire News, 2026.
https://news.mdspire.com/pediatrics/articles/teen-girls-overtake-boys-in-vaping/
This content is an AI-generated, fully rewritten summary based on a published scholarly article. It does not reproduce the original text and is not a substitute for the original publication. Readers are encouraged to consult the source for full context, data, and methodology.
