Vaping is addictive.
- Vapes contain nicotine, an addictive chemical that is extremely hard to quit.
- Nicotine is the same drug used in cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products.
- Some vape pods have as much nicotine as 20 cigarettes (a pack of cigarettes).
- Because your brain is still developing until your mid-20s, you’re more likely to become addicted to nicotine.
Vaping can harm your body.
- It’s not water vapor—aerosol from vaping has cancer-causing chemicals.
- Vaping has been linked to EVALI (e-cigarette, or vaping associated lung injury).
- Vapes can also contain harmful (and possibly harmful) ingredients such as:
- Very fine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs.
- Flavoring such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease.
- Heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead.
- Volatile organic compounds, such as benzene, which is found in car exhaust.
Vaping can harm your brain and your mental health.
- Nicotine can harm the parts of your brain that control attention and learning.
- Nicotine can change your mood and increase your risk for mood disorders.
- Life can be stressful. See tips for getting through hard times instead of using vaping to cope.
Vaping and COVID-19
- Researchers are still learning about the link between e-cigarette use and COVID-19, but other related harms have been established:
- Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which has several known health effects, including causing inflammation in lung tissue.
- E-cigarettes contain acrolein, a pesticide. Acrolein can cause acute lung injury and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and may cause asthma and lung cancer – all four are potential risk factors for developing more severe COVID-19 symptoms.
- Vaping can weaken your immune system.