Girls Now Outnumber Boys in Regular Teen Vaping
A JAMA Pediatrics study finds vaping among 15- to 17-year-old girls rose sharply while boys' rates held lower.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Youth
Live Poll
Do you think teen vaping is a serious problem in your community?
A new JAMA Pediatrics study found that girls now outnumber boys in regular vaping among U.S. adolescents. Regular vaping among girls ages 15 to 17 rose from 4.9% in 2021 to 7.8% in 2024.
Why it matters
The reversal marks a shift from earlier years, when vaping was more common among boys. The findings point to changing patterns in youth nicotine use that could shape prevention efforts aimed at teen girls.
The PATH survey data covering 2014 through 2024 shows girls' regular vaping rate climbing from 4.9% to 7.8% while boys stood at 4.6% in 2024. Researchers have not yet identified the specific drivers behind the shift.
The players
Medical University of South Carolina
A public academic medical institution in Charleston, South Carolina, whose researchers led the study on youth vaping trends.
The details
Researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina analyzed nationally representative PATH survey data on tobacco use among U.S. adolescents ages 12 to 17 from 2014 through 2024. Regular use was defined as use within the past 30 days, and the study tracked smoking and vaping trends by age and gender.
Timeline
2014 to 2018: Vaping was more common among boys and older teens.
2018 and 2019: Youth vaping surged alongside flavored e-cigarettes, and the gender gap largely disappeared.
2021: Vaping rates dropped and girls' use began rising.
2024: Regular vaping among girls ages 15 to 17 reached 7.8%.
Culture Shift
The reversal follows the 2018 and 2019 surge tied to flavored e-cigarettes, which first closed the gender gap in youth vaping. Girls' rising rates after the 2021 drop suggest the pattern has moved beyond the early flavored-product era.
Parents and educators of teen girls may want to watch for vaping as a rising concern in middle and high school years. The findings suggest prevention conversations should not assume boys are the primary group at risk.
The takeaway
Vaping patterns among teens are not fixed, and the gender gap has reversed in recent years. Tracking who is vaping and why can help guide more targeted prevention.
Further reading
For more on how teen habits are shifting, explore Youth coverage across the site.
Source note: This article includes information reported by West Newsmagazine.
Live Poll
Do you think teen vaping is a serious problem in your community?
