WHAT ARE E-CIGARETTES?

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are battery-powered devices that deliver nicotine, flavorings, and other 

ingredients to the user. Using e-cigarettes is sometimes called “vaping.” E-cigarettes do not create harmless 

“water vapor” – they create an aerosol that can contain harmful chemicals. 

HOW MANY YOUTH ARE USING E-CIGARETTES?

• E-cigarettes have been the most commonly used tobacco product among U.S. youth since 2014. 

• In 2020, CDC and FDA data showed that at least 3.6 million U.S. youth, including about 

1 in 5 high school students and about 1 in 20 middle school students, used e-cigarettes 

in the past 30 days.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS FOR YOUTH?

• Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. 

Nicotine exposure during adolescence can:

» Harm brain development, which continues until about age 25.

» Impact learning, memory, and attention. 

» Increase risk for future addiction to other drugs. 

• Young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to go on to use regular cigarettes. 

• Many e-cigarettes come in kid-friendly flavors – including mango, fruit, and crème – which make 

e-cigarettes more appealing to young people.

• E-cigarette aerosol is not harmless. It can contain harmful substances, including:

» Nicotine

» Cancer-causing chemicals

» Volatile organic compounds

» Ultrafine particles

» Flavorings that have been linked to lung disease

» Heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead

E-cigarettes and Youth:

What Parents 

Need to Know

CDC.gov/e-cigarettes
WHAT CAN YOU DO AS A PARENT 

OR CAREGIVER?

As a parent or caregiver, you have an important role in protecting 

children from e-cigarettes. 

» Talk to your child or teen about why e-cigarettes are harmful 

for them. It’s never too late.

» Set a good example by being tobacco-free. 

» Learn about the different shapes and types of e-cigarettes 

and the risks of e-cigarette use for young people at 

CDC.gov/e-cigarettes.

ABOUT USB FLASH 

DRIVE-SHAPED 

E-CIGARETTES

As a parent or caregiver, you may 

have heard about the use of USB flash 

drive-shaped e-cigarettes, including 

JUUL (pronounced “jewel”). 

JUUL is the top-selling 

e-cigarette brand in the 

United States. 

JUUL is being used by 

students in schools, 

including in classrooms 

and bathrooms. JUUL’s 

nicotine liquid refills are 

called “pods.” According to 

the manufacturer, a single 

JUUL pod can contain as 

much nicotine as a pack of 

20 regular cigarettes. 

JUUL delivers nicotine in a 

new form called “nicotine 

salts,” which can make it 

less harsh on the throat 

and easier to use by youth.

JUUL also comes in flavors 

that can appeal to youth.

WHAT DO E-CIGARETTES LOOK LIKE?

• E-cigarettes come in many shapes and sizes. Some look like regular 

cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Larger e-cigarettes such as tank systems 

– or “mods” – do not look like other tobacco products. 

• Some e-cigarettes look like other items commonly used by youth, 

such as pens and other everyday items. New e-cigarettes shaped 

like USB flash drives are popular among youth, including JUUL and 

the PAX Era, which looks like JUUL and delivers marijuana.

CDC.gov/e-cigarettes