Why Young Vapers Are Quitting: The Mental Health Connection Nobody Expected

Young e-cigarette users who recognize that vaping worsens anxiety, depression, and stress are significantly more likely to quit nicotine, according to new research from Truth Initiative published in the Journal of Adolescent Health. The study surveyed 15- to 24-year-old vapers and found that those who agreed vaping intensifies mental health symptoms showed dramatically higher quit rates compared to those with no plans to stop.

How Mental Health Messaging Is Driving Young People Away From Vaping

The research reveals a surprising paradox: while many young people initially turn to vaping to cope with stress and anxiety, concerns about those same mental health issues are now motivating them to quit. Researchers discovered that e-cigarette users who agreed that vaping nicotine can intensify anxiety, depression, and stress showed striking differences in their quitting behavior compared to those who hadn't considered quitting.

The findings suggest that mental health-focused quit-vaping campaigns are actually reaching and resonating with young users in meaningful ways. This represents a shift in how public health messaging can connect with this demographic—not through fear or judgment, but through recognition of real mental health impacts.

What the Numbers Show About Quitting Intentions?

The study examined 15- to 24-year-old e-cigarette users and categorized them by their quitting stage. The results paint a clear picture of how mental health awareness correlates with action:

• No Plans to Quit: 46.9% of surveyed e-cigarette users reported having no plans to quit vaping in the next year
• Considering Quitting: 25.5% contemplated quitting within the next six months, showing they're in an exploratory phase
• Planning to Quit Soon: 10.2% committed to quitting within the next month, indicating serious intent
• Already Quit: 17.3% had already successfully stopped using e-cigarettes

Among those who agreed that vaping intensifies anxiety, the odds of being in a later quitting stage were striking. E-cigarette users who recognized vaping's link to anxiety had roughly twice the odds of planning to quit within the next year, triple the odds of planning to quit within the next month, and about five times greater odds of having already quit compared to those with no quitting plans. The associations were nearly identical for users who agreed that vaping worsens depression and stress.

Why Mental Health Messaging Works for This Generation

The research highlights something important: young people aren't necessarily motivated by traditional health warnings. Instead, they respond when messaging connects to their lived experience—in this case, the direct link between nicotine use and mental health struggles. According to Truth Initiative's broader survey data, 67% of young adult nicotine users plan to quit nicotine in 2026, with most citing health as their primary reason.

Nicotine's impact on mental health is real and significant. Nicotine use can harm the developing brain and increase susceptibility to addiction later in life. More immediately relevant to young users, nicotine addiction can increase stress levels and intensify symptoms of depression and anxiety—creating a cycle where people use nicotine to manage stress, only to find it makes their mental health worse.

This creates a unique challenge for young people trying to quit: they must address both nicotine dependence and the mental health symptoms they were originally trying to manage. Understanding this connection appears to be a powerful motivator for change.

Support Resources for Young People Ready to Quit

For young people recognizing the mental health impact of vaping and ready to take action, support is available. The EX Program, developed by Truth Initiative in partnership with Mayo Clinic, offers a free digital quitting resource designed specifically for this challenge. The program includes personalized quit plans, interactive support, advice and tips from Mayo Clinic experts, and 24/7 access to an established online quit community.

Young people can start their quitting journey by visiting exprogram.com or texting EXPROGRAM to 88709 to sign up. The availability of these resources reflects growing recognition that quitting nicotine requires more than willpower—it requires addressing the underlying mental health needs that often drive vaping in the first place.