A new study by faculty members Karen Geletko, MPH, Jon Mills, Ph.D., and Jeff Harman, Ph.D., and undergraduate honors student Campbell Goff reveals that adolescents exposed to secondhand aerosol (SHA) from e-cigarettes are significantly more likely to consider trying vaping products, even if they’ve never vaped before.

Using data from the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey, researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis of adolescents who had never used e-cigarettes. The study found that those exposed to SHA were:

• 105% more likely to be curious about trying e-cigarettes.
• 75% more likely to be willing to try them soon.
• 79% more likely to consider trying them within the year.

As vaping continues to rise among adolescents, the study underscores the importance of policies and public health strategies aimed at reducing secondhand exposure in homes, schools, and public spaces.