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Home/Youth vaping in Southern Nevada remains a persistent public health threat

Youth vaping in Southern Nevada remains a persistent public health threat

Easy access, flavored products and peer influence drive teen vaping crisis

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 18, 2025

LAS VEGAS – The Southern Nevada Health District is sounding the alarm on a serious public health concern: youth vaping. The use of e-cigarettes among teens presents a growing challenge for parents, educators and health professionals as a new school year begins.

More than 1.6 million students nationwide reported using e-cigarettes in 2024, with 87.6% choosing flavored varieties. Statewide, vaping remains widespread among youth; however, trends differ among middle school and high school students. According to the 2023 Nevada Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), vaping rose among Nevada middle school students from 12.6% in 2021 to 15.8% in 2023. In contrast, nearly one in three Nevada high school students (31.9%) reported having used vaping products in 2023, down from 36.7% in 2021.

Clark County data from the YRBS show nearly one in three high school students (30.7%) and about one in six middle school students (16.3%) have tried e-cigarettes. Additionally, most students who vaped got their products from someone they knew—60.4% of high school students and 58.7% of middle school students obtained vapes from a friend, family member or someone else.

Among young users nationwide, 55.6% prefer disposable e-cigarettes, while 15.6% use prefilled or refillable pod systems—most commonly from popular brands like Elf Bar, Breeze and Mr. Fog.

To raise awareness, the Health District and the Clark County Medical Society recently published a new article, “A Back-to-School Wake-Up Call: The Youth Vaping Crisis,” highlighting the underlying causes driving this epidemic. The full article is available at the Get Healthy Clark County website.

Influences behind the trend

Several key factors contribute to the continued rise in youth vaping:

  • Tobacco marketing on social media: Nearly 74% of students who use social media have seen e-cigarette-related content.
  • Proximity to retailers: 34.8% of Las Vegas public schools are located within 1,000 feet of a tobacco retailer, making access easier than ever.
  • Peer influence: The most common reason teens start vaping is because a friend does—32.3% of students reported getting their first vape from a peer.
  • Variety of e-cigarette flavors that appeal to youth.

Like all tobacco products, e-cigarettes contain nicotine—a highly addictive substance that can impair brain development related to learning, mood regulation, attention and impulse control. Most people who use tobacco products begin during adolescence, making early prevention and intervention critical.

Health District offers support for quitting

“Quitting vaping can lead to significant health benefits, including a better quality of life and reduced risk of serious illness or premature death,” said Dr. Cassius Lockett, District Health Officer for the Health District. “I encourage anyone ready to quit to take advantage of the resources available through our agency as well as our local and national partners.”

Additional resources and information are available at:

The Southern Nevada Health District serves as the local public health authority for Clark County, Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, Mesquite and North Las Vegas. The agency safeguards the public health of the community’s residents and visitors through innovative programs, regulations, and initiatives focused on protecting and promoting their health and well-being. More information about the Health District, its programs, services, and the regulatory oversight it provides is available at www.SNHD.info. Follow the Health District on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

2025-08-18T09:43:20-07:00
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