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Vaping is the use of battery-operated devices to inhale nicotine, flavoring, or other drugs in the form of an aerosol. These devices go by many names and have various types including: vapes, vape pens, e-cigarettes (e-cigs), cig-a-likes, mods, tanks, disposables, or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).

E-cigarette use, commonly known as vaping, has gained widespread popularity among youth. E-cigarette use rose dramatically, from just 220,000 high school students in 2011 to over 3 million by 2018. In 2019, vaping usage among high school students was nearly 1 in 3. In 2024, more than 1.6 million US youth reported currently vaping. This has led the US Surgeon General to declare youth vaping an epidemic.

As of July 2024, more than 86% of e-cigarettes on the market were illegal products , the majority deriving from China, despite seizures of millions of illegal units by the US Food and Drug Administration and US Customs and Border Protection. These unauthorized vapes, often flavored and marketed to appeal to youth, are flooding the US market from China through deceptive shipping practices such as mislabeling packages as toys or electronics bypassing regulatory oversight and posing serious public health risks. In response, federal agencies have ramped up seizures and issued warning letters to combat the illicit trade. These illegal imports from China constitute an unusual and extraordinary threat to the public of the United States.

Data provided from the US Department of Health and Human Services

The Risks of Vaping

Many vaping products accessible to youth are not authorized by the FDA and are illegally marketed.

Most vapes contain high concentrations of nicotine, which is the same highly addictive chemical found in cigarettes!

A human brain doesn’t fully mature until around age 25. Nicotine exposure can negatively affect normal brain development by impacting concentration and reducing impulse controls. Additionally, nicotine can worsen mental health issues (e.g., anxiety or depression) and may enhance the risk of developing chronic diseases (e.g., cancer and heart disease).

Self-reported hypertension, of similar magnitude to that of cigarette smoking and hypertension, was found to be associated with vaping. Accumulating evidence has indicated that exposure to e-cigarettes can lead to harmful cardiovascular effects, including blood vessel damage and heart failure.

Harmful Effects of Vaping:

  • Increased risk of seizures, especially  in youth
  • New onset of seizures
  • Severe burns or other injuries due to vape explosions
  • Altered oral microbiome leading to gum disease, tooth decay, oral mucosal lesions, impaired wound healing, dry mouth, and bad breath
  • Short- and long-term effects on attention, learning, and memory
  • Irritability and mood swings
  • Insomnia, restlessness, and sleeplessness
  • Coughing and wheezing
  • Nausea, vomiting, headaches, and dizziness
  • Nicotine addiction
Risks of E-Cigarette and Vape Pen Use

Parent Help

Possession of a Vape or E-Cigarette

Texas HB 114 went into effect in September 2023. HB 114 states the conditions under which a student may be either removed from class and placed in a disciplinary alternative education program, or expelled from a school for the possession, use, or delivery of marihuana or e-cigarettes on or near a public school property or at certain school events. The legislation requires a student to be removed from class and placed in a Disciplinary Alternative Education Program, or DAEP, if the student meets specific criteria, including committing certain actions within 300 feet of school property. The bill also covers any school-sponsored or school-related activity on or off school property. Students caught selling or under the influence also fall under the new bill.