The vape industry promotes their devices as a safer alternative to cigarettes, but they still contain nicotine and other harmful chemicals. Nicotine is addictive, and adolescent brains are particularly vulnerable to addiction. Vaping exposes lungs to lung-damaging chemicals, and can cause health problems like heart disease, asthma and ear infections.
Even though the name implies water vapor, it doesn’t make any real “vapor.” Instead, the device creates an aerosol mist that contains ultra-fine particles of nicotine and other chemicals. Some of these are able to reach deep into the lungs, where they cause damage over time. The chemicals can also irritate the skin and eyes, and some of them, like the chemical acetone, can cause permanent lung damage.
Vapes look cool and come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from the more traditional looking e-cigarette to devices that resemble USB flash drives or small pods. But they all work the same way: a battery powers a heating element that turns the liquid inside the device into a vapor. The vapor is then inhaled into the lungs, and the nicotine and other chemicals cross over into the bloodstream.
Many people who smoke tobacco also start using e-cigarettes, and some eventually quit smoking altogether. But for many teens who begin vaping, the use of these devices becomes more and more addictive. And that’s because the brain is still developing, and teens can become hooked on nicotine quickly.
Adolescents who begin using e-cigarettes are more likely to use other forms of nicotine, including tobacco products and cannabis. They’re also more likely to start using other drugs and are at greater risk for becoming addicted to heroin, which is often laced with additional chemicals. And because the lungs are not fully mature, it’s especially dangerous to smoke or vape when you’re young.
Some of the damage caused by vaping is reversible, but it can also lead to serious and lasting health problems, including a higher risk for lung diseases. The irritation that happens in the lungs can lead to scarring and narrowing of the tubes that bring air in and out, and it can increase your chance of getting lung cancer.
The best way to stay healthy is to not start vaping in the first place. But if you do, it’s important to know the risks and take steps to quit. It’s not easy, but it is possible to quit for good. Just be sure to choose a day to quit, put it on the calendar, tell supportive friends and family, and get rid of all your supplies. Then, distract yourself with things you enjoy doing. Chew on sugar-free gum or chew on a lolly, drink lots of water and try to exercise more.
If you have trouble quitting, talk to a doctor or counselor, and ask for help. They can give you tips, and suggest other ways to get support. They can also refer you to other resources for quitting, like the ones on this page.
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