The social spark behind college vaping

College students are more likely to vape if their friends frequently talk about electronic cigarettes, according to a new study from The University of Texas at Arlington. The effect is particularly strong in tight-knit friend groups, where regular conversations about vaping are linked to more consistent use.

“These findings are important because they point to the significant role of interpersonal communication in shaping college students’ e-cigarette use,” said Joshua Awua, a postdoctoral research associate in UT Arlington’s School of Social Work and the lead author of the study recently published in Addiction Research & Theory.

Dr. Awua, who joined UTA as part of its RISE 100 hiring initiative—Recruiting Innovative Scholars for Excellence—analyzed data from 670 college students who have used or are currently using e-cigarettes.

Key takeaways from the study include:

• Students who discuss vaping within close friend circles are more likely to use e-cigarettes multiple times a day compared to those with broader, more dispersed social networks.
• Because smaller social networks can amplify the influence of vaping conversations, peer-based prevention education efforts may be the most effective way to reduce e-cigarette use among young adults.

The American Heart Association has called vaping an epidemic in the U.S. The percentage of young adults who vape more than doubled from 11.7% in 2020 to 24.1% in 2023, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Although vapes were introduced as a safer alternative to conventional tobacco to assist individuals in quitting smoking, evidence suggests that vaping is more likely to lead to conventional tobacco use rather than prevent it, Awua said.

“Vaping is associated with negative effects,” Awua said. “We have evidence that there are several negative consequences, such as adversely affecting cardiopulmonary, renal, and oral health.”

What’s next?

Future research will explore vaping-related conversations among young adults in greater depth and how these interactions influence e-cigarette use. The ultimate goal is to develop a virtual reality intervention platform aimed at reducing vaping among this group, said Micki Washburn, UTA associate professor and coauthor of the study.

“We aim to immerse young adults in virtual vaping environments that feature vaping cues and real-life social interactions, allowing them to practice craving management, substance refusal skills and relapse prevention,” Dr. Washburn said.

Additional coauthors include Antover Tuliao, Devin Mills and Jon Webb of Texas Tech University and Matthew Meisel of Brown University.

About The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)

Celebrating its 130th anniversary in 2025, The University of Texas at Arlington is a growing public research university in the heart of the thriving Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. With a student body of over 41,000, UTA is the second-largest institution in the University of Texas System, offering more than 180 undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Recognized as a Carnegie R-1 university, UTA stands among the nation’s top 5% of institutions for research activity. UTA and its 280,000 alumni generate an annual economic impact of $28.8 billion for the state. The University has received the Innovation and Economic Prosperity designation from the Association of Public and Land Grant Universities and has earned recognition for its focus on student access and success, considered key drivers to economic growth and social progress for North Texas and beyond.