E-cigarettes are already not safe for teens: they are highly addictive and can negatively impact brain development in teens, contain harmful chemicals, can cause inflammation and scarring in the lungs, and are a gateway to smoking.
For all these reasons, state lawmakers have attempted several times to limit their use among children. Earlier this year, Democratic lawmakers in Washington made a push to ban flavored tobacco vapes, with the support of Washington Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal.
“The prevalence of flavored products is bringing way too many young people into very dangerous behaviors for themselves,” Reykdal said when the legislation was introduced. “These industries are, quite frankly, trying to create customers for life.”
The 2025 ban legislation did not become law, but a new study led by researchers at Georgia State University may add fuel to the vape ban debate in future legislative sessions. The study, published this month in the journal Scientific Reports, found that more than 84% of youth and young adults who use e-cigarettes have modified their device, often in potentially dangerous ways.
Researchers surveyed nearly 2,000 youth and adult users across the country who use electronic nicotine delivery systems (e-cigarettes or vapes).
“Many users don’t realize the potential dangers of modifying e-cigarettes,” researcher Lucy Popova said in a release. “When people adjust the voltage of a device or add substances to the liquid, they can increase their exposure to harmful chemicals like heavy metals.”
Vape device modifications, including the exchange of batteries and heating coils, are common and intended to be made with authorized parts. However, the study found that 68% of youth and 61% of young adults made changes to e-liquid, like adding their flavors, additional nicotine, or cannabis.
The researchers noted that making unauthorized battery modifications, which 40% of youth users reported doing, can also be dangerous. Wiring a new battery or using an unauthorized replacement battery can lead to overheating, fire, or explosion. (A study by another team of researchers identified more than 2,000 e-cigarette explosion and burn injuries from 2015 – 2017 that resulted in a visit to an emergency department.)
E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among youth. According to the 2023 Washington State Healthy Youth Survey, 29% of Washington’s 12th graders reported having tried e-cigarettes, and 17.5% said they’d smoked cigarettes.
Popova said she hopes anti-vaping campaigns include the dangers of modifying devices.
Tell them: “Choose you.”
Help your teens learn the facts about vaping. Go with them to the Choose You website, dedicated to helping tween and teens get off nicotine and vaping products.
