Idaho Sees One of America’s Most ‘Dramatic’ Upticks in Vape Usage

Chiefing. Hitting the dome. Shmacking that Johnson.

Have you heard an increase in these phrases on streets near you?

All of these terms, according to one Idaho woman who is familiar with the particular lifestyle, apply to what most would just call 'vaping'.

It seems that these days, anywhere you go, you see folks using small vapes or e-cigarettes to get a little nicotine in their system. Plumes of vapor rise up in restaurants, bars, grocery stores...just about where they're allowed.

Believed to be safer than cigarettes at one point in time, health experts and scientists continue to find that vapes offer health risks of their own. Do Idahoans care? Statistics from one recent compilation of data suggest that Idaho's vaping rates are soaring and there could be no stopping the trend.

Online vape shop 'Huff and Puffers' put together some data courtesy of the CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. The data analyzed vape users and their locations, given voluntary surveys, between the years of 2016 and 2022. These calculations are what ranked Idaho so high.

Leading the nation was North Dakota--where in 2016, just 3.6% of folks were vaping and in 2022, a whopping 9% were believed to be vaping.

In Idaho, the increase wasn't far off. Coming in at fourth highest in the nation, our 2016 data pointed to about 4.6% vaping with a jump to 10% in 2022. That's a real vape BOOM.

We spoke with one Idaho woman who wished to remain anonymous--we'll call her 'Shannon' to protect her identity.

Shannon shared she started vaping 'years ago' and blames others for getting her involved in the addictive activity.

'I hit it and I never looked back', she said.

Can vaping be that thrilling of an activity? It certainly isn't cheap--but many look right past the price.

"Hitting the dome made me feel absolutely electric', she shared, before breaking down why side effects have driven her to stop.

"My body was hurting so bad and I was convinced my lungs were collapsing. I needed to make a lifestyle change".

The expensive and addictive habit sure doesn't sound appealing--but for some reason, Idaho's numbers are 'booming'.

Do you notice more vapes in Idaho these days and do you wish there as more control on where they can be used?