The Scary Truth About Vaping

You may have heard about e⁠-⁠cigarettes, and even heard from other kids that using e⁠-⁠cigarettes (also known as vaping) is a safer alternative to smoking conventional cigarettes. But the truth is that vaping exposes you to lung-damaging chemicals and can lead to a severe health problem: addiction. And if you think that getting addicted could never happen to you, think again. You’re actually more vulnerable than adults to addiction because your adolescent brain is still developing.

NICOTINE DANGER

You may have seen some kids using a vape product like Juul or Puff Bar. Maybe you’ve even thought about trying vaping, whether from curiosity or boredom, or you feel peer pressure. You may have heard that it’s no big deal to vape once in a while. But vaping even "just a little" can open the door to addiction.

That’s because the liquid inside most vapes contains nicotine, the same highly addictive chemical in tobacco cigarettes. This liquid also contains flavorings and other chemicals. Instead of producing smoke, the device creates an aerosol for a user to inhale that resembles a vapor (that’s where the term "vaping" comes from). You can’t always rely on a label to tell you exactly what’s in a vape. Some vapes claim they are nicotine-free, but they actually contain nicotine.

Nicotine reaches your brain within 10 seconds when you vape. It triggers a surge of dopamine, a brain chemical that makes you feel good. When you expose your body to nicotine, it can change the way your brain works, causing you to become addicted and crave more nicotine. The drug can also cause long-term changes to your brain, affecting your memory and ability to focus and learn—which all promote addiction.

Some vapes contain as much nicotine as a whole pack of cigarettes. In fact, teens who vape can get addicted to the drug more quickly than if they smoked cigarettes.

TOXIC CHEMICALS

The vapor in e⁠-⁠cigarettes can also expose you to toxic chemicals like formaldehyde, acrolein, and acetaldehyde, as well as harmful metal particles: nickel, lead, chromium, tin, and aluminum. Breathing in e⁠-⁠cigarette aerosol can deliver these chemicals to your lungs where they can cause damage.

How do you know if you’re getting addicted? You may feel the need to vape as soon as you wake up. You might have trouble focusing in class or having fun with friends because you’re distracted by the urge to vape.

The good news is you can avoid nicotine addiction. The most effective way: Never start vaping in the first place. If you do vape, quitting can be hard, but not impossible. Don’t be afraid to ask your parents, teachers, or doctor for help. Also use the resources on the Vaping 101: Tips for Staying Vape-Free page for quitting support.

It may take several tries, but you can quit. Your brain, your body, your family, and your future deserve it. More teens, just like you, tell their stories about their decisions to stop vaping on the next page.