E-Cigarettes & Vapes

Vaping can contain serious levels of nicotine. Learn the facts.

Don't Just Follow the Trends.

Vaping is one of the most popular tends among teens, but even though you may not be inhaling smoke the aerosol isn’t as safe as you might think.

Frequently Asked Questions

We encourage you to click through to the linked sources to find more detailed information—so you can make informed decisions about your health.

Can you get addicted to vaping?

Addiction is a commonly used word, but what does it really mean?

If you’ve watched the investigative documentary Broken on Netflix, you may have seen their “Big Vape” episode. Many high schoolers in this documentary said they wished they’d known what to expect before beginning to vape. They felt more inclined to vape than they initially thought. Some said that it feels like their whole life revolves around vaping, and they’re constantly thinking about wanting to vape when they can’t.

One high school senior in this episode says, “If I woke up and my Juul would be dead, I’d be really irritated. Or when it would die or a pod runs out, you know you’re addicted when you just get so upset that you’ll go anywhere or do anything to rip a Juul.”

Addiction feels different for every person. Some aren’t affected very greatly while others experience shaky hands, nicotine withdrawal headaches, and mood swings. Some have experienced anxiety or depression.

See how vaping is affecting you by taking Smoke Free Teen’s quiz.

Is vaping better than using cigarettes?

Vaping without nicotine is a better alternative to using cigarettes. Although some studies have shown that there is still a variable percentage of nicotine in vapes. Research has also shown that the base fluid, flavoring, and other ingredients can cause irritation, inflammation, and can be potentially toxic. However, much more research needs to be done on the effects of vaping. Acetoin, diacetyl, and acetylpropionyl are all potentially harmful chemicals that can be found in juice flavoring.

What chemicals are used in vapes?

The e-liquid for vapes is usually made of propylene, glycol, glycerol, nicotine, and juice flavor chemicals. When heated, the aerosol liquid can contain toxic chemicals like acrylonitrile, nickel, and lead.

Who profits from the tobacco industry?

Many of the businesses that profit from vaping are the same businesses that sell cigarettes. The cigarette company Altria, which makes Marlboro cigarettes, is a partial owner of Juul—so it’s a rich tobacco executives who are behind all the fun vape images and advertisements you’ve likely seen.
 
Juul has been taken to court for claiming their products to kids and teens are “safe”. There have been thousands of lawsuits against Juul. The U.S. Surgeon General has said there is an “e-cigarette epidemic among youth.” Most e-cig lawsuits have been filed by young adults or parents of underage children who were unaware of the side effects of vaping. Many people who filed lawsuits say they became addicted to using e-cigarettes which led to or worsened their conditions. They claim they were unaware that vape fluids contained high levels of nicotine, a highly addictive substance.

Ready to Quit?

If you already vape or smoke and are ready to quit, please click help below or check out these free programs that you can try via text.

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