“It’s Everywhere”: Middle and High School Educators Sound Alarm on Pervasive, Daily Impact of E-Cigarettes on Learning

Truth Initiative report highlights firsthand accounts from teachers, administrators, and counselors, fueling calls for stronger policies in communities and better resources in schools

As the new school year begins, a report from Truth Initiative — a nonprofit organization whose mission is to prevent youth and young adult nicotine addiction and empower quitting for all — sheds light on the alarming presence of e-cigarettes in middle and high schools nationwide, with educators reporting that vaping is a daily issue that significantly disrupts student learning and academic progress.

The report provides unique insights from dozens of teachers, administrators, counselors, and school-based psychologists, who share firsthand accounts about frequent vaping in school bathrooms; inventive hiding spots like underwear, tampon dispensers, and ceiling tiles; and the brazen use of vapes in hallways or even during class. It underscores the challenges schools face in enforcing school policies, and the frustration educators feel in trying to address the problem when these youth-appealing products are widely accessible. E-cigarettes are available in nearly every convenience store, despite the vast majority of them being on the market illegally.

Youth at Risk as Nicotine Strength Rises

While youth e-cigarette use is at its lowest point in more than a decade, nearly 40% of the more than 1.6 million middle and high school students who use e-cigarettes report vaping frequently. At the same time, Truth Initiative research shows that between 2017 and 2022, disposable e-cigarettes nearly tripled in nicotine strength, quintupled in e-liquid capacity, and dropped in price by nearly 70% — putting the physical and mental health of young people at risk. 

“Despite progress in recent years, these firsthand stories from educators make clear that e-cigarettes remain a serious and persistent problem in schools. This is particularly concerning as these products come in kid-friendly flavors and are often packaged and marketed in ways that directly and purposefully appeal to youth,” said Kathy Crosby, CEO and President of Truth Initiative. “Educators are on the front lines of this issue, but they cannot solve it alone. This ongoing challenge demands coordinated action from policymakers, communities, organizations, and schools.”

The report highlights the evolving nature of e-cigarettes, including the difficulty educators face in keeping up with an ever-changing market of discreet and easily concealable devices, as well as the rise of nicotine pouches like Zyn, which are becoming increasingly popular among high school students. Oral nicotine pouch use among high school students has nearly doubled, increasing from 1.3% in 2023 to 2.4% in 2024, making these products the second most commonly used nicotine product among teens. 

The report also examines educators’ observations on the trajectory of youth vaping — from curiosity and experimentation in middle school to frequent daily use in high school — and the heightened risk of nicotine addiction. Among students who currently use e-cigarettes, about 16% of middle schoolers and nearly 30% of high schoolers report daily use.

Many educators describe how vaping disrupts the school day, with students regularly leaving class to vape in bathrooms, creating an ongoing disruption that hinders learning and can negatively affect mental health. Administrators and teachers also report having to devote significant time and resources to monitoring and enforcing school policies, diverting attention from educational priorities. Many note that vape detectors meant to make it easier to enforce school policies have the opposite impact and are largely ineffective at catching students using e-cigarettes.

The Need for Vaping Prevention and Cessation Resources

The report also reinforces the need for comprehensive vaping prevention and cessation resources, including programs that engage students directly and address the root causes of youth nicotine use. Educator access to evidence-based curricula and tools can help shift perceptions about vaping and curb its appeal. 

To meet this need, Truth Initiative developed Vaping: Know the truth, a free national youth vaping prevention curriculum for high school and middle school students that’s not intended as a remedial program or a punishment for those caught vaping or using other tobacco products on school grounds. Made available to schools by EVERFI^®, the online program offers a positive, modern approach to help teachers educate students about e-cigarette products and their risks. For youth and young adults who already use nicotine products, Truth Initiative also offers EX Program, a free, evidence-based, market-leading cessation tool. The program meets young people where they are and has proven that it can increase odds of quitting by up to 40%.

“We have a responsibility to equip educators with the right resources,” Crosby said. “Community level action can also have a big impact. Educators, parents and decision makers can come together at the community level to address youth access and flavors. Addressing the issue is essential to not only preventing youth and young adult nicotine use, but also to helping break the cycle of lifelong nicotine addiction.” 

Funding was provided by the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use through the CDC Foundation with a grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies.

Learn about Vaping: Know the truth, a free curriculum offered by Truth Initiative

Young people can text DITCHIT to 88709 or visit EXProgram.com for help quitting.