Home > Resource Library > E-Cig Resources
Search the Resource Library

E-Cig Resources

The Rise of Youth Vaping

The last nine years, 2011-2020, have seen enormous spikes in youth e-cigarette use rates.

  • In 2017, 11% of high school students had used an e-cigarette in the past 30 days. By 2019, 27.5% of high school students had used e-cigarettes in the past month. In 2020, that number decreased to 19.6% of high school students.
  • Compared with the very small amount of youth use in 2011 (1.5%), this represents an increase of more than 1,800% in just eight years, 2011-2019, with a substantial increase occurring between 2013 and 2015, when use rose from 4.5% to 16%, coinciding with the emergence of JUUL.
  • The current usage percentage among middle schoolers decreased from 10.5% in 2019 to 4.7% in 2020.
  • Although both high school and middle school usage has decreased, disposable e-cigarette usage has surged. In 2019, 2.4% of high school students e-cigarette users had used a disposable e-cigarette. By 2020, it increased to 26.5%.
Vaping comes with many known and unknown risks that are still being determined over time. What do you need to know about e-cigarettes? We've got you covered. We've got the 101 on e-cigarettes!

E-Cigarette 101

As a parent and or educator, it is important to be knowledgeable about e-cigarettes. Below is the basic information about e-cigarettes and links to additional information.

Show All

Common Names and Nicknames

What are some common names of e-cigarettes?
Common Names:
  • E-cigarette, e-vaporizer, or Electronic Nicotine Delivery System (ENDS)
Common Nicknames:
  • Vape, vape pen, Jull, juuling, e-cig, mod, or mods
Most common e-cigarette brands used by youth:
  • Juul and Surin
Click here to learn more about the different types of e-cigarettes

What Do E-Cigarettes Look Like?

What do e-cigarettes look like?
E-cigarettes come in many shapes and sizes.
  • Some e-cigarettes are large and bulky, but others can be slender and look like traditional cigarettes, USB memory sticks, or even small keychains.
  • Click to learn more.
graphic identifying different types of e-cigarettes

How Do E-Cigarettes Work?

How do e-cigarettes work?
graphic showing person exhaling smoke, with harmful components of smoke labeled
  • E-cigarettes consist of four main components:
    • E-liquid or E-Juice, a liquid that contains nicotine, flavorings and other chemicals.
    • Cartridge or Pod, is the container, typically removable, which holds the e-liquid in the e-cigarette.
    • Heater, which vaporizes the nicotine
    • Battery, is what powers the e-cigarette
    • Sensor to detect when the user inhales on the mouthpiece and triggers the battery and heater
  • When the user inhales on the e-cigarette the sensor detects the device is being used and the battery, which powers the heating element, heats the nicotine and flavorings, or e-juice, into an aerosol which is then inhaled by the user.
  • Click to learn more about how an e-cigarette works.

Are E-Cigarettes Dangerous?

Are e-cigarettes dangerous?
What We Don't Know
  • Many of the dangers of e-cigarettes are being still discovered and some of the dangers are still unknown.
  • It takes a long time to do research on a product and e-cigarettes have not been around long enough for there to be significant research and knowledge about these products and their side effects on those who use them.

What We Do Know

  • Nicotine is a harmful chemical which can cause damage to developing brains and should not be used by children and youth. Additionally, the human brain is still developing until about age 25.
  • In addition to nicotine, e-juice or e-liquid contains many other chemicals including volatile organic compounds, flavorings, heavy metals, and substances like diacetyl which are known to cause lung disease.
  • The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is currently investigating a national outbreak of e-cigarette, or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI).
  • Click to learn more about lung injury associated with the use of e-cigarettes.

E-Cigarette Resources for Educators

E-cigarette information for educators
graphic with lungs and text "EVALI: e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury"
Learn about EVALI in Texas
  • Click here to learn more from the Texas Department of State Health Services.
“The Real Cost” Youth E-Cigarette Prevention Campaign
  • Contains great resources for both youth and educators.
  • Click here to find educational posters, videos, games, and more.

E-Cigarette Information for Youth

E-cigarette information for youth
It is important for you to have all of the facts about e-cigarettes, in order to make your own decisions about vaping.
  • Check out The Real Cost
    • Learn the basics about tobacco.
    • Discover the effects tobacco could have on your health.
    • Find out how to avoid letting tobacco take control of your life.
  • Check out these Myths and Facts from the American Lung Association
    • “E-cigarettes are safe”
      • Is a myth because they are an unregulated product that contains many known toxic chemicals.
    • “E-cigarettes don’t contain nicotine”
      • Is a myth, because the majority of e-juice or e-liquids do contain high amounts of nicotine which is dangers and should not be used by children or youth.
    • “It’s just water vapor”
      • Is a myth, because what comes out of an e-cigarette is not vapor, but an aerosol which contains many harmful chemicals.
    • “E-cigarrettes don’t have secondhand smoke emissions”
      • Is a myth, because e-cigarettes expose others to secondhand emissions just like cigarettes. The health effects of the secondhand e-cigarette emissions are currently unknown.
    • Click here to learn more e-cigarette myths and facts.

E-Cigarette Information for Parents

E-cigarette information for parents
Do you know how to talk to your kids about e-cigarettes?
It is important for parents to talk to their kids about the risks of using e-cigarettes. Youth are more likely to listen and learn from adults in their lives who they trust and respect.

How Do I Quit Vaping?

How do I quit vaping?
graphic with text "be vape free (vape crossed out with red x). working together to create a vape-free generation. in partnership with discovery education and CATCH my breath"
If you have already started smoking e-cigarettes, there are many tools that can help you quit.
  • https://teen.smokefree.gov/quit-vaping?utm_source=The%20Real%20Cost&utm_medium=Website&utm_campaign=ENDS
  • Download the quitSTART app
    • This app allows you to create your own Quit Kit by entering information about your smoking habits.
    • Check your progress and earn badges for smokefree milestones.
    • Click here for more information about quitSTART
  • Try texting SmokefreeTXT
    • Sign up online or texting QUIT to 47848.
    • For ages 13-19
    • It is a 6-8 week program, depending on your quit date, where you will receive 3-5 messages per day.
  • Chat with a National Cancer Institute Specialists on LiveHelp
    • Specialists are available you answer your questions about quitting smoking.
    • LiveHelp is available Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. ET
    • Click here to learn more about LiveHelp
  • Click here for more resources to help you quit smoking.

What Programs are Available for Schools?

What programs are available for schools?

CATCH my breath: e-cigarette and juul prevention program

CATCH My Breath

The Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) program, partnered with The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston to offer the CATCH My Breath e-cigarette prevention curriculum. The CATCH MY Breath curriculum is the only evidence-based e-cigarette prevention curriculum available. CATCH My Breath is funded by CVS Health and is a free resource available to schools, educators and concerned community members.

Curriculum

The CATCH My Breath curriculum offers age appropriate lessons to 5th through 12th grade students. The curriculum includes all digital materials that educators need to teach the lessons. This includes, PowerPoint presentations, notes and speaking points, activities, handouts, and posters. All print materials are available for free to download.

  • In addition to the curriculum for the students, CATCH My Breath also has a parent presentation that is available for free to download.
  • Ready to teach a CATCH My Breath class at your school?

Our Favorite Resources

healthy williamson county logo and williamson county and cities health district logo