{"id":13426,"date":"2020-07-17T18:42:20","date_gmt":"2020-07-17T22:42:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=13426"},"modified":"2026-03-27T15:59:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T19:59:55","slug":"vaping-statistics","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/vaping-statistics\/","title":{"rendered":"Vaping statistics"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the mid-1960s, 42% of Americans were smokers, according to the American Lung Association, but the<\/span> combustible tobacco product<\/span><\/a> use rate reduced throughout the following decades. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that nearly 1 in 7 U.S. adults smoke cigarettes today, but some use electronic cigarettes, cigars, and pipes.<\/span><\/p>\n

The <\/span>use of e-cigarettes<\/span> has increased, especially among teens and <\/span>young adults<\/span>. These products contain various chemicals and come in different flavors. Some studies discuss their safety and potential <\/span>health consequences<\/span> they may cause in children, teens, and adults, such as <\/span>e-cigarette<\/span>–<\/span>associated lung injury<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are numerous blogs and <\/span>social media<\/span> posts about the relative hazards and merits of <\/span>vaping<\/span>, and it\u2019s easy to get lost in the weeds. Here you\u2019ll find the straight stats and facts on <\/span>e-cigarettes<\/span> and <\/span>vaping<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What is <\/span>vaping<\/span>?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The technical name for vaping is electronic nicotine <\/span>delivery system<\/span> (ENDS), which is an umbrella term that encompasses <\/span>vape pens<\/span>, pods, tanks, <\/span>mods<\/span>, and <\/span>e-cigarettes<\/span>. These devices simulate cigarette or cigar smoking using aerosolized vapor instead of smoke. They employ a heating element that vaporizes a liquid (propylene glycol, glycerin, nicotine, and flavorings), allowing the user to inhale it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

E-cigarettes<\/span> have a rechargeable base\u2014they often look like pens or USB <\/span>flash drives<\/span>\u2014and disposable cartridges that contain the flavored <\/span>e-liquid<\/span>. Although <\/span>vape devices<\/span> incorporate a heating element, there\u2019s not any combustion or smoke involved. The <\/span>amount of nicotine<\/span> in <\/span>e-cigarettes<\/span> varies between brands and delivery methods, and its labeling isn\u2019t always reliable.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Some companies market <\/span>e-cigarettes<\/span> as a safer alternative to <\/span>regular cigarettes<\/span>, but they also come with <\/span>health risks<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to the <\/span>CDC<\/span>, e-cigarettes contain nicotine which can harm <\/span>adolescents<\/span>‘ <\/span>brain development<\/span> and lead to lung damage.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Ryan Sultan<\/span><\/a>, an assistant professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, explains, “the <\/span>aerosol<\/span> from <\/span>e-cigarettes<\/span> contains potentially harmful chemicals, not found in tobacco smoke, like <\/span>heavy metals<\/span> or volatile organic compounds. While less harmful substances are produced, the ones that are may still pose <\/span>health risks<\/span>.”<\/span><\/p>\n