A new study brings good news in the fight against teen vaping. A pill approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been shown to triple the chances of young people quitting nicotine. The results offer real hope for teens and young adults who want to quit vaping but haven’t had the right tools—until now.
A Breakthrough for Young People
The pill, called varenicline, has been used for years to help adults quit smoking. Now, it has proven to work for young people, too. When paired with counseling and text support, the drug helped more than half of users stop vaping in just 12 weeks.
This breakthrough came from a clinical trial led by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital. Their work was published in the medical journal JAMA. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and led by Dr. A. Eden Evins, a top expert on addiction.
“We know vaping is a big problem among young people,” Dr. Evins said. “This is the first time we’ve had proof that a medicine can really help them quit.”
How the Study Worked
Researchers followed 261 young people, aged 16 to 25. All of them vaped almost every day. They did not smoke cigarettes. These participants were split into three groups:
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Group 1 took varenicline, had weekly 20-minute counseling sessions, and joined a free text support program.
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Group 2 did the same but took a fake pill (placebo) instead of varenicline.
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Group 3 only used the text support program.
Every week, the teens reported if they were still vaping. Their answers were checked with a saliva test to see if they still had nicotine in their system.
After 12 weeks, the results were clear:
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51% of the varenicline group had quit vaping
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14% of the placebo group quit
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6% of the text-only group quit
Even three months after treatment ended, many stayed vape-free:
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28% of varenicline users were still not vaping
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7% of the placebo group had stayed off
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4% of the text-only group remained vape-free
The Science Behind Varenicline
Varenicline helps by blocking nicotine in the brain. This cuts cravings and lowers the “good feeling” people get from vaping. It makes quitting easier and more successful.
Before this study, no one had tested varenicline in teens and young adults. Now, it’s clear the drug is both safe and effective for this age group.
“None of the teens who quit vaping started smoking instead,” said Dr. Randi Schuster, another researcher in the study. “That’s a big win.”
Why This Matters
Vaping is a growing issue among youth. Many teens and young adults think e-cigarettes are safer than smoking. But vaping still delivers nicotine, which is highly addictive. It can affect brain growth and lead to other drug use later in life.
In 2023, about 1 in 4 young adults used e-cigarettes. In 2024, around 8% of high schoolers vaped. Many teens want to quit, but don’t know how.
Until now, there were no approved treatments that had been tested on teens. Counseling helps some, and text support can give reminders and encouragement. But those alone don’t always work.
This study shows that adding varenicline to counseling and text help gives the best results.
A Safe and Legal Option
One reason this is such good news is that varenicline is already approved by the FDA for adults. That means doctors can prescribe it to people as young as 16 right now.
In the study, only three people dropped out due to side effects—two from the varenicline group and one from the placebo group. The side effects were mild and did not lead to serious health issues.
This means the treatment is not only helpful—it is safe and available.
What Happens Next
The research team wants to test the drug in even younger teens next. They also want to study how it works in people who both vape and smoke. There is still more to learn, but this study is a strong start.
“This is just the beginning,” said Dr. Evins. “We now have proof that we can help kids quit. That’s huge.”
A Step Toward Better Health
Nicotine addiction is hard to beat, especially for young people. But with the right help, it is possible. This study offers a clear message: quitting vaping is not only possible—it can be done safely and effectively.
Doctors now have a proven way to help young people quit. And teens who want to stop vaping finally have a real chance at success.
The combination of medicine, support, and care gives hope to families, schools, and communities. It is one more step toward ending the youth vaping crisis—and protecting the next generation from addiction.
