Summary Points
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The gender gap has flipped: In 2024, 7.8% of U.S. girls ages 15–17 regularly vaped, versus 4.6% of boys—the widest gap yet.
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Girls’ vaping is rising again: Since 2021, rates among older teen girls have climbed toward their 2018 peak, while boys’ rates have stayed fairly steady.
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Cigarette smoking is nearly gone—but nicotine use remains: Regular smoking among teens fell to 0.2%,vaping still poses risks to developing brains.
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Parents and doctors should check in: Researchers urge proactive conversations and routine screening. The study tracked who vaped, not why.
A decades-old pattern has reversed
For years, teenage boys vaped more than girls. By 2024, the pattern had flipped: 7.8% of U.S. girls ages 15 to 17 vaped regularly, compared with 4.6% of boys.
Researchers analyzed eight rounds of a national youth survey, spanning 2014 to 2024. They counted teens who used e-cigarettes fairly regularly and had vaped in the past 30 days. The survey shows a clear shift, but it does not explain why it happened.
Among girls ages 12 to 14, vaping remained less common. Still, their rate reached 2.6% in 2023 before falling to 1.5% in 2024. That decline offers some hope, but it does not erase the concern.
Smoking declines, but vaping carries risks
Regular cigarette smoking among 12- to 17-year-olds fell to 0.2% in 2024, down from 1.6% in the survey’s first round. That marks meaningful progress. Yet vaping presents a different challenge.
E-cigarettes expose users to fewer known toxic chemicals than cigarettes, but they do not make nicotine harmless. Nicotine can affect adolescents’ attention, learning, mood and impulse control. Small, easy-to-hide devices can also make it hard for teens to track how much they use.
Conversation and screening can help
The research does not show whether marketing, anxiety, peer influence or other factors drive the change. Those questions need more study. Meanwhile, parents can ask about vaping directly, and doctors can screen teens consistently.
This trend reminds us that technology can spread faster than social habits and safeguards can adapt. Honest conversations and better screening offer practical ways to respond. They can help young people make informed choices as nicotine products continue to change.
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