CU Boulder student Caitlin Owen conducted a survey in November 2024 to examine vaping habits among students on campus.

“CU Boulder is a prime example of the vaping epidemic on college campuses across the nation,” Owen said.

The survey gathered responses from 150 students, ages 18-23, and revealed that many have experimented with vaping, with some expressing a desire to quit.

Notably, 45% of respondents admitted to vaping “for fun,” while 40% acknowledged an addiction. Carli Repass, a respondent, shared her personal struggle.

“I would say my reason for vaping is that it became a common habit early in my high school days, so it’s been such a long-standing habit for me,” she said.

Statewide Data Highlights

(Data from Colorado Department of Public Health/Graph by Charlotte Croy)

This shows a steady decline in vaping rates among high school students alongside an increase in the percentage of students who believe vaping is "wrong" or "very wrong." This aligns with CU Boulder students’ growing awareness and desire to quit.

Photo of colorful mango and fruit JUUL pods from 2018

(Photo by Charlotte Croy)

Counseling and Physiatrics Services (CAPS) in the C4C at CU Boulder to provide help to students

(Photo by Charlotte Croy)

Modern vaping devices, like the one shown here, are designed with phone features and appeal to younger users.

(Photo by Charlotte Croy)

Additionally, a smaller group cited social pressures and vaping as a substitute to quit smoking as their reasons. The majority of these students tried their first vape during high school, with some starting as early as middle school. Reflecting on their habits, over 60% expressed a desire to change, indicating an increasing awareness of the potential harms associated with vaping.

These campus-specific findings compare to statewide trends found in Colorado. According to the Healthy Kids Colorado Survey conducted by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, vaping rates among high school students have significantly decreased between 2017 and 2023. 

Christopher Lord, CU Boulder’s associate director of alcohol and drug programs and collegiate recovery, notes the substantial impact of Juul on the vaping market.

“Juul really changed the vaping market,” he said.

Introduced as a “safer” alternative to smoking, Juul quickly became popular among young adults, leading to increased nicotine addiction rates. Lord, who has been with the university since 2018, has observed a significant shift in how students perceive vaping. Initially considered harmless, many now recognize the addiction risks associated with these devices.

Devices like Juul had a monumental role in the rise of vaping, by 2018, JUUL controlled nearly 75% of the U.S. e-cigarette market and generated $1.3 billion in revenue. Research from the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study found that 31% of JUUL’s users were aged 12-17 years.

“When I started working here, students said, ‘It’s fine, it’s not a big deal,’” Lord said. “Now, they say, ‘I know it’s bad, but I’m addicted.’”

The rise of electronic cigarette use among young adults has been a big health concern both on campus and nationwide. Marketed initially as a “safer alternative to cigarettes,” vaping has led to increased nicotine addiction rates and unknown health risks. There is no research about the long-term effects either, because of how new it is. 

Ella Lorenz, a sophomore at CU Boulder who recently quit vaping, shared her personal struggle with her nicotine addiction.

“I didn’t quit sooner because I was scared of failing,” Lorenz said. “The hardest part was feeling like something was missing.”

Overcoming nicotine addiction can be particularly challenging in a college setting where your friends do it too. 

“It’s really hard to stop using something that you’re addicted to when it’s around you, people that succeed the most are the people that keep trying, and surround themselves with other people who are trying,” Lord said. 

The statewide data supports Lord’s observations, highlighting a positive trend among younger populations. The significant decrease in vaping among high school students suggests that we are stopping the problem before it begins, before college. 

CU Boulder is proactively addressing this issue by offering resources such as free nicotine coaching and providing vape disposal bins on campus. 

Lord said. “When people actually talk about their relationship, they often find that things aren’t exactly what they want for themselves.”