Vaping vs. smoking: Long term effects, benefits, and risks Vaping has overtaken cigarettes as the dominant nicotine risk for young people. The 2025 Monitoring the Future survey of 24,000+ US students confirms what schools have been seeing for years: 31% of Many young people who vape did not smoke cigarettes before they started vaping. But young people who vape are more likely to start smoking cigarettes than those who never vape. We've developed Young people who vape are 3 times more likely to take up smoking cigarettes. Vaping can lead to lung damage and can be harmful for young brains, which are still developing until