The rate of middle and high school students who vape is declining across the United States, with Central Pennsylvanian districts and experts seeing similar trends.
Nicotine vape use among middle and high school students fell to 5.2% in 2025, the lowest rate since the behavior peaked in 2019, according to the 2025 National Youth Tobacco Survey by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Six years ago, 27.5% of high school students and 10.5% of middle school students reported use.
Some Central Pennsylvania school districts are seeing the same downward trend in vaping among students. Penn Manor High School in Lancaster County saw about a 20% decrease in vaping-related infractions in the 2025-26 school year compared to the year before. The district has been transparent about its use of vape detectors, Principal Doug Eby said, so students know not to bring vaping products to school…