Vaping 101
Feel like you're speaking another language when you try to talk about vaping? Start here to learn vaping basics.
What is an e-cigarette?
E-cigarette devices heat liquid to create an aerosol that a person inhales. These liquids often include nicotine, flavors, and other chemicals or drugs. E-cigarettes go by many names such as e-cigs, Juuls, vape pens, mods, and tanks. Popular brands as of October 2022 include PuffBar, Vuse, and Hyde. The slang changes all the time. There are probably even new ones since we wrote this!
What’s vaping?
Vaping means breathing in the aerosol of an e-cigarette. It's also sometimes called “juuling,” named after one of the most popular brands among US teens. Juul is owned in part by Altria, a major tobacco company that makes and sells regular cigarettes.
What are people vaping?
E-cigarettes can be used to inhale nicotine, THC, and other drugs – alone or in combination. THC is the chemical in marijuana that makes people feel high. THC can be vaped by using liquid concentrations of THC, CBD (an active ingredient in the cannabis plant like THC that does not cause the same "high" effects as THC), or dry cannabis flowers.
Juul is one of the most popular brands for vaping nicotine. The liquids in Juul products contain a type of nicotine called “nicotine salts.” A Juul pod (about the size of a thumbnail) gives the user about 200 puffs and as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes.
Disposable e-cigarettes, such as Puff Bar, are also very popular. A Puff Bar looks like a USB drive. Puff Bars have high nicotine levels like Juul, but each one is single-use and cannot be refilled.
Who is vaping?
The most recent data from the CDC’s National Youth Tobacco Survey showed that more than 2.55 million young people are using e-cigarettes: 11.3% of high school students (1.72 million) and 2.8% of middle school students (320,000). Like youth, e-cigarette use among young adults aged 18-24 is also increasing. Young adult use of e-cigarettes increased from 2.4% in 2012 to 9.3% in 2019. Your child is not the only one vaping! Kudos to you for reaching out for help.