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A significant number of high school students attempting to quit electronic cigarettes have reported success with the support of friends, according to a new study. Conversely, punitive measures and temporary loss of access to vapes were linked to continued use, highlighting the importance of peer support in cessation efforts.
Study Methodology
Researchers surveyed 4,855 students across eight high schools in Connecticut to understand the reasons behind quitting or reducing vaping among youth. The study utilized an anonymous online questionnaire, available in both English and Spanish, to assess e-cigarette use and quitting attempts.
Of the total participants, 756 high school students (mean age: 15.9 years; 54% girls) who had ever used an electronic cigarette provided insights into their quitting experiences. These responses covered their motivations for quitting and the outcomes of their attempts.
Key Findings
Among the adolescents who had vaped:
- 56.8% reported only vaping a few times without continuing.
- 32.2% had seriously attempted to quit or reduce use in the past.
The most common reasons cited for quitting included:
- Concerns about health (50.2%)
- Worries about addiction (45.5%)
- The cost of vaping (42.5%)
- Impact on athletic performance (30%)
- Perceived time wasted on vaping (23.2%)
Among those who attempted to quit:
- 40.3% successfully stopped vaping without switching to other nicotine products.
- 39.6% continued vaping despite attempts to quit.
- 20.1% quit vaping but used other nicotine or tobacco products.
Peer support played a significant role in successful cessation, with data showing that adolescents with supportive friends had lower odds of continuing to vape (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 0.03; P = .001) or using other tobacco products (AOR: 0.14; P = .02). In contrast, punitive approaches such as punishment or temporarily taking away vaping devices were associated with continued use (P ≤ .03).
Implications for Public Health
The study’s authors emphasize the need for targeted interventions that encourage quitting all tobacco products and address co-use. “Although many adolescents try to quit or cut back on vaping, efforts are needed to help support quitting. Our findings indicate that interventions should address co-use and encourage cessation of all tobacco products to promote public health,” they wrote.
Source and Study Limitations
The study, led by Krysten W. Bold, PhD, from the Department of Psychiatry at Yale School of Medicine, was published online on February 20, 2025, in the Journal of Adolescent Health. It was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health and the American Heart Association, with no reported conflicts of interest.
However, researchers acknowledged certain limitations, including reliance on self-reported survey responses and retrospective recall, without biochemical verification of tobacco use status. Additionally, the study’s generalizability may be limited as it focused solely on students from Connecticut and did not assess past dependence or vaping frequency before quitting attempts.
Disclaimer
This article is based on published research and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. For concerns regarding vaping or smoking cessation, individuals should consult a healthcare professional.
