New NYC Health Department Data Show Vaping Persists Among Young New Yorkers
Despite Declines In Cigarette Smoking, E-Cigarette Use Persists Among Teens And Young Adults
Adams Administration Has Concentrated Efforts on Protecting Children from Harmful and Illegal Vapes Through Litigation Against Distributors and Shutting Down Illegal Shops
June 16, 2025 — The New York City Health Department (NYC Health Department) today released a new report on e-cigarette use (vaping) among youth and young adults in New York City, with recommendations on how to address this issue. “Youth and Young Adult Vaping in New York City” explores why vaping is popular among young people despite tremendous public health success in lowering cigarette smoking rates. Compared with cigarette smoking, vaping is over three times more common (4% vs. 14%) among public high school students and over seven times more common among young adults (2% vs. 15%).
“Today’s report is additional confirmation of what we already know: Vapes are damaging to not only the physical health, but also to the mental health of our kids, and while there are some signs of this trend slowing, our children are struggling to break the addiction once hooked on vaping,” said New York City Mayor Eric Adams. “With vaping rates three times more common than cigarettes, it is clear we must do all we can to help our youth make healthier choices. That’s why our administration has been aggressive in addressing the scourge of toxic and illegal vaping products that threaten our children through multiple lawsuits against the major distributors and retailers of these dangerous products and through our highly successful ‘Operation Padlock to Protect’ initiative, which has already sealed over 1,400 illegal shops that were selling to children. Together, we will continue the fight against vapes that undermine the safety of our communities as we work to make New York City a safer, more affordable city that is the best place to raise a family.”
"Vape companies use attractive packaging, flavors, and other marketing tactics to appeal to young consumers and may make their products seem harmless,” said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Michelle Morse. "But these products come with hidden health risks. Some popular vapes contain more nicotine than 200 cigarettes, which makes it easy to get hooked and hard to quit — especially for young people. While vaping has decreased among public high school students citywide, rates went up among Black students. Our research shows that most people want to quit, which is why we're focused on outreach and support where it's needed most.”
"As the leader of New York City Public Schools and as a mother, I am deeply concerned about the proliferation of vaping and its effect on today's young people," said Schools Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos. "We are committed to working with families, health partners, and school communities to educate students about the health risks of vaping, provide the support they need to make healthy choices, and continue to advocate for stronger protections to keep these products away from our children."
Vaping can expose people to toxic and cancer-causing chemicals. The high concentration of nicotine in vapes is particularly addictive for people under age 25 because their brains are still developing—it can negatively affect memory, concentration, and learning. Nicotine withdrawal can harm mental health, adding to other stressors youth may face. While vaping companies often promote their products as an alternative to smoking, the vast majority of young people who vape have never previously smoked.
Inequities in Vaping Rates
The report describes how vaping rates vary across race and ethnicity, gender, and sexual identity. The prevalence of vaping has decreased among public high school students from its peak in 2017 (17%) to 2023 (14%), but this decrease was not experienced equally among all racial and ethnic groups and there was no decrease among Black students. In contrast to public high school students, vaping among people ages 18 to 24 increased from 2014 to 2020.
To Address Vaping
The Adams administration has been laser focused on keeping kids safe, especially from the sale of illegal vapes and smoking products. Mayor Adams recently announced the successful closure of Price Point Distributors, a national company, from selling illegal e-cigarettes and vape products after a November 2024 lawsuit undertaken by the city against Price Point. In July 2023, the Adams administration announced that the City of New York had filed a federal lawsuit against four major distributors of illegal flavored vapes, including the nation's largest vape distributor. In April 2024, the administration announced a second lawsuit against 11 wholesalers located in New York City; that case has now been transferred to federal court. Both actions target distributors for their part in the illegal sale of flavored disposable e-cigarettes, the most popular vaping devices among middle school and high school youth. Both cases remain pending.
In addition to taking legal action, the Adams administration has been laser focused on enforcement against illegal operators that threaten communities and children. Since launching in May 2024, “Operation Padlock to Protect” has systematically conducted joint operations — which include inspections and follow-up inspections — in neighborhoods across the five boroughs. When illegal stores are ordered to be sealed, officers from local New York City Police Department precincts monitor those locations to ensure compliance and alert the Sheriff’s Office when violations of the seal order occur. Since launching Operation Padlock to Protect, the city has sealed over 1,400 illegal cannabis businesses and seized over $97 million in illegal products.
Record-high closures of illegal smoke shops have won widespread praise by New Yorkers who have applauded the Adams administration for taking decisive action on this public-safety and quality-of-life nuisance. Operation Padlock to Protect is another example of the Adams administration's efforts to double down on its commitment to swiftly shut down illegal operators, protect the city’s children, improve quality of life, and facilitate a safe and thriving legal cannabis market.
To combat predatory marketing tactics and limit vaping harms, NYC has passed sales laws such as requiring a license to sell vapes, having a minimum age of sale, and prohibiting sale of flavored products.
In collaboration with the New York Health Foundation NYC Public Schools, and the Health Department, the CATCH Global Foundation provides free vaping prevention training, classroom resources, and parent resources to public school health educators serving middle and high school students, and engages students in advocacy-centered service learning projects through its evidence-based vaping prevention program, CATCH My Breath.
What You Can Do
- Parents, guardians, and adult family members: Learn about tobacco and e-cigarette products, keep spaces (like the home and car) vape- and smoke-free, and have open conversations with your kids.
- Community-based organizations, schools, colleges, public health practitioners, and social service providers: Educate young people about tobacco and e-cigarette products and strengthen protections through trainings on mindfulness practices, resilience and coping skills, as well as social and emotional competencies.
- Health care providers:
- For youth: Provide preventive counseling, screen for mental health symptoms and product use,and develop a treatment plan for patients and families.
- For adults: Ask about tobacco use history and offer treatment to everyone who vapes or smokes.
- Policymakers: Implement and enforce policies that limit access and exposure to tobacco and vape products.
- Funders and government agencies: Support youth prevention and behavioral health services.
- New Yorkers: Learn how to report issues in your community if you are concerned about unlicensed stores, underage sales, or flavored products.
Additional recommendations are available in the report.
For more information on e-cigarettes, visit the NYC E-Cigarettes webpage. NYC teens ages 13 to 17 can get free mental health support at NYC Teenspace. Guidelines, tools, and resources are also available for clinicians. Find local quit-smoking and quit-vaping programs on the NYC Health Map or visit nyc.gov/nycquits.
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MEDIA CONTACT: PressOffice@health.nyc.gov