Hopes for Smoke-Free Generation Dwindling: 40% of Young Adults Smoke or Vape

Forty percent of Dutch young adults ages 18 to 29 smoke or vape, showing how far younger generations remain from the goal of eliminating nicotine use Social media use is linked to nicotine use among young adults, with 75% seeing smoking or vaping videos and one-third of those exposed reporting that the content tempted them to try it Vaping and smoking frequently overlap, with young people who start vaping three times more likely to start smoking and 70% of monthly vapers also reporting cigarette use Vaping was linked to altered gene activity in mouth cells, with disrupted pathways tied to cancer and cell signaling, while device type and flavor were each linked to distinct biological changes Building healthy habits, exercising regularly, limiting social media exposure and identifying nicotine triggers helps create a stronger foundation for quitting rather than switching to another vaping product or cigarette