Vaping Linked to Smoking, Asthma, and Mental Health Issues in Youth

According to a comprehensive global review published in July 2025, young people who use e-cigarettes face a range of serious physical and psychological harms. The analysis, conducted by experts from the University of York and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, examined over 380 studies on youth vaping.

The review found consistent evidence that young vapers are three times more likely to go on to become regular smokers. Not only that, but they are also more likely to smoke more frequently and intensely. The researchers say the repeated strong associations in their review suggest a causal relationship between vaping and later smoking.

Beyond the gateway to smoking, the study also linked youth vaping to increased odds of respiratory issues like asthma, pneumonia, and bronchitis. There were also associations with substance abuse, including drinking and marijuana use, as well as negative mental health outcomes like depression and suicidal thoughts.

"Vaping is having a detrimental impact on the health of young people globally and vaping appears to be a gateway to other substances," said Dr. Rebecca Glover, the senior author of the study. "Our study provides the strongest evidence to date that young people globally face a serious range of physical and psychological harms from vaping and are at higher risk of transitioning to smoking."