Vaping Among Teens

In 2023, about 1 out of every 14 King County teens in grades 8, 10, and 12 had used an e-cigarette at least once in the past month (6.9%). E-cigarettes, often referred to as vapor products, come in various single-use and refillable designs. These battery-operated devices are used to inhale a vaporized liquid, which typically contain nicotine, often in very high doses. Starting nicotine use at a young age increases the likelihood of a user becoming addicted, and nicotine use during adolescence may have long-lasting effects on brain function. Vaping and e-cigarettes are harmful to health and are especially unsafe for youth and young adults.  Additionally, the long-term health effects of vaping still remain unknown. 

• Trends: Teen e-cigarette or vaping rates have changed rapidly over the years. Rates of e-cigarette use among teens increased substantially from 2012 to 2018 and have decreased since then. In 2012, 3.0% of King County teens reported e-cigarette or vaping use, escalating to 16.8% by 2018 and decreasing by more than half to 6.9% in 2023. Similar trends were seen across grade level, regions, gender, sexual orientation and many race and ethnicity groups. Vaping should continue to be monitored given the many changes teens have experienced in recent years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated mitigation strategies. 

• Grade level: Vaping became more common as grade level increased, with 3.0% of 8th graders, 5.8% of 10th graders, and 11.3% of 12th graders reporting having vaped in the past month.   

• Sexual orientation: Teens who identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB+) were more likely to use e-cigarettes (10.5%) than the King County average (6.9) and compared to teens who identified as heterosexual (6.1%).    

• Race and ethnicity: At 2.8%, Asian teens were less likely to vape than the county average. However, rates varied by Asian ethnic group. Teens identifying as Chinese (3.2%) and Indian (1.6%), had lower rates of vaping than teens identifying as, Filipino (7.1%), and Japanese (6.7%). 

Additional resources:  

• Infographic: Youth Vapor and E-Cigarette Use in King County   

• Tobacco and Vapor Prevention (Public Health Seattle and King County)  

• Teen cigarette smoking  

• Adult e-cigarette use  

Notes & Sources

Source: Healthy Youth Survey. Unless otherwise noted, data are from 2021-2023.

Every 2 years, Washington public school students in 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th grades students answer questions about safety and violence, physical activity and diet, alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, and related risk and protective factors. To learn more about the survey, please go to https://www.doh.wa.gov/DataandStatisticalReports/DataSystems/HealthyYouthSurvey 

Numerator: Students who answered more than “0 days” to the question: "During the past 30 days, on how many days did you use an electronic cigarette, also called e-cigs, or vape pens?” 

Denominator: All students who answered the question. 

To learn more about the Healthy Youth Survey and view the data biography, click here.