Youth vaping remains one of the most urgent—and often misunderstood—public health challenges facing schools and communities today. While awareness has grown, many educators, health leaders, and community organizations are still navigating how to respond effectively, often without consistent, actionable data to guide decisions.
To help address this gap, Playbl conducted its inaugural School & Community Youth Vaping Survey in Spring 2025. The survey gathered insights from schools, districts, public health departments, and community coalitions to better understand how youth vaping is showing up locally—and how communities are responding. The findings paint a clear picture: youth vaping is widespread, increasingly complex, and requires prevention-first, community-wide solutions.
Youth Vaping Is a Widespread and Growing Concern
Across the country, organizations working closest to youth report that vaping is no longer a fringe issue. Nearly 80% of survey respondents described youth vaping as a challenge, significant challenge, or crisis in their school or community. Only a small percentage viewed it as a non-issue, underscoring the urgency felt by frontline educators and community leaders.
Importantly, this survey reflects organizational observations, not student self-reporting. Respondents consistently cited physical, emotional, and academic harm associated with vaping, including increased anxiety, behavioral challenges, and declining academic performance. For many communities, vaping is directly impacting student well-being and the learning environment.
What Substances Are Youth Vaping?
While nicotine remains common, the data reveal a more concerning and evolving landscape
•49.3% of respondents reported nicotine as the most commonly vaped substance
•45.4% identified THC/cannabis products
•A smaller but alarming 4.4% cited fentanyl exposure through vaping
These findings highlight that youth vaping is no longer limited to nicotine. The presence of THC—and even fentanyl—raises the stakes significantly and reinforces the need for early, effective prevention strategies before patterns escalate into more serious health risks.
Vaping Is Driven by Social, Emotional, and Environmental Factors
The survey makes clear that youth vaping is not driven by a single cause. Respondents most frequently identified a combination of influences, including peer pressure, stress and anxiety, home life, community access, and social media or marketing exposure.
This mix of factors reinforces an important truth: vaping is not just a school issue—it is a community issue. Effective solutions must address the broader environments young people navigate every day, rather than relying solely on discipline or enforcement.
How Schools Are Responding—and Where Gaps Exist
When students are caught vaping for the first time, schools most often rely on reactive responses such as counseling, educational programs, or in-school and out-of-school suspension. While these approaches reflect an effort to intervene, the data point to a larger gap in proactive prevention.
Despite the scale of the issue:
•Only 43% of surveyed organizations offer vaping prevention education for students
•Just 35% provide prevention education for parents or caregivers
This lack of consistent prevention programming leaves many communities responding after vaping occurs, rather than equipping students and families with the knowledge and skills to prevent use in the first place.
Vape Detectors Are Not a Standalone Solution
Some schools have adopted vape detectors as part of their response strategy. However, the survey suggests their impact is limited when used alone.
Only 37% of respondents reported installing vape detectors, and among those organizations, most described the impact as minimal or moderate. Just a small share reported a significant reduction in vaping behavior. These findings indicate that technology can support enforcement but cannot replace education, engagement, and prevention.
Prevention-First, Student-Centered Approaches Are Essential
One of the most important takeaways from the survey is what communities need moving forward. Youth vaping is shaped by social pressures, mental health challenges, and environmental influences—meaning effective solutions must go beyond punishment.
The data point to a clear need for:
•Student-centered prevention programs that address root causes
•Educational approaches that actively engage students, not just deliver information
•Integrated strategies that involve schools, families, and community partners
•Evidence-based programs that are practical, scalable, and easy to implement
Notably, at least one-quarter of communities surveyed reported having no established vaping prevention programming, representing a significant opportunity for early intervention and long-term impact.
Turning Insight Into Action
The 2025 School & Community Youth Vaping Survey reinforces a critical message: youth vaping is a shared challenge that requires coordinated, prevention-focused solutions. Schools and communities are eager for approaches that move beyond reactive discipline and toward sustainable strategies that support student health and well-being.
Playbl’s mission is to help schools, districts, and community coalitions turn data into action—by providing evidence-based prevention and intervention programs that address the real-world factors driving youth vaping and support healthier futures for young people nationwide.
Want to Explore the Full Findings?
This blog highlights key themes from Playbl’s inaugural 2025 School & Community Youth Vaping Survey, but it only scratches the surface of the insights shared by more than 100 organizations across 29 states.
Review the full survey results report to explore detailed findings, recommendations, and actionable data that can help your school or community strengthen prevention and intervention efforts.