To Vape or Not To Vape

teen vaping.

Understanding what guides adolescents’ decision-making on e-cigarettes.

While many adults turn to electronic cigarettes to help them quit smoking, the majority of teens and preteens who vape have never used conventional cigarettes. So what’s the appeal?

Surprisingly, little research has been done on adolescents’ perceptions of e-cigarettes. But a recent study by University at Buffalo researchers sheds light on their reasons for trying them—and the results are concerning.

Popular and ‘cool’

The 34 participants in the study, both users and non-users between the ages of 10 and 18, reported that the wide acceptance of vaping products among their peers makes them attractive, and a perceived cool factor adds to the allure. The variety of flavors was also cited as an appealing feature for users, who generally disliked the taste and smell of regular cigarettes.

Although well aware of the harms associated with cigarettes, the majority of participants had only a vague understanding of the potential dangers of e-cigarettes. While non-users considered the product to be less harmful than cigarettes, but still dangerous and addictive, users tended to view e-cigarettes as safe.

A pressing need for intervention

The study found that non-users had concerns about e-cigarettes acting as a gateway to drugs and other risky behaviors—a fact that could be leveraged in prevention programs, said Eunhee Park, assistant professor in the School of Nursing and lead investigator for the study. “However,” she added, “once adolescents have used e-cigarettes, pleasant and attractive features, such as flavors, may need to be the most important aspects to be addressed in interventions.”

Participants listed advertisements, family, peers, the internet and social media sites such as Instagram as their main sources of information about e-cigarettes.

Where aren’t they getting info? From health care providers, said Park, who noted she was drawn to study e-cigarette use among adolescents because there is almost nothing by way of prevention or treatment efforts for them, even as their use of the products has surged in recent years.

“This is an area that needs urgent attention to make a meaningful impact on young people’s health,” she said.