THINKING ABOUT QUITTING?

It doesn’t matter where nicotine comes from. Whether it’s taken from tobacco leaves or made in a lab as synthetic nicotine, it’s still the same harmful and addictive chemical. Even if a product doesn’t make smoke, vapor, or smell, nicotine can still hurt your brain, heart, and body. No matter what form it's in, nicotine is not safe.

The human brain keeps developing until around the age of 25. Using nicotine before the age of 25 can harm memory, attention, and learning. Since your brain is still developing, you can get addicted quicker than adults. Using nicotine can also rewire your brain to become more easily addicted to other drugs.  

“Vapor” is an aerosol that comes out of a vape. It is not harmless water vapor. The vape aerosol that people breathe in has nicotine and other toxic chemicals that can cause sickness.

Tobacco companies use flavors to attract teens. Flavored vapes and refill liquids contain diacetyl, a chemical flavor known to be linked to severe lung disease. Teens who start vaping with flavors are more likely to have a lifetime nicotine addiction. 

Flavored vape liquid contains nasty and unknown stuff. Almost all vapes have nicotine, even if they claim to be nicotine-free. Nicotine is used to get you hooked. Vape liquids have been found to contain toxic chemicals - the very same ones used to preserve dead animals in taxidermy (formaldehyde) and to kill insects in farm pesticides (ethylbenzene).

Secondhand vape aerosol contains harmful, toxic, and cancer-causing chemicals that can be breathed in. The chemicals go into the body through the skin and harm those around you. Thirdhand smoke and thirdhand vapor stays in carpets, walls, furniture, clothing, and hair for a long time. Breathing vape aerosol is harmful to you and your body.

Some vapes are called “smart vapes” because they have touch screens, Bluetooth, GPS, and custom features, similar to phones or gaming devices. These features can make them harder for adults to notice. Tobacco companies design these vapes to hook users in many ways: nicotine addiction, game-like rewards, screen time, and technology use that feels like using a smartphone. This makes it easier for teens to start using them and harder to quit.

Nicotine pouches are not safer than tobacco. They contain harmful, cancer-causing chemicals that enter the bloodstream through the mouth. This can cause serious mouth problems like cavities, bleeding gums, mouth sores, and damage that can turn into cancer. Nicotine pouches can also raise heart rate and blood pressure, which can lead to heart problems.

Some people think nicotine pouches are safer than tobacco, but that’s not true. Nicotine pouches contain harmful and cancer-causing chemicals that can cause issues when absorbed into your bloodstream through your mouth. Using pouches can lead to serious oral health problems like cavities, gum bleeding, mouth sores, and damage that could turn into cancer. Pouches can also raise your heart rate and blood pressure, which can lead to heart problems.

Companies use sneaky marketing to target young people. They use bright colors, sweet flavors like fruit or mint, smart vapes with apps or games, and social media and influencers to promote products teens are not legally allowed to buy. The goal is simple. Get teens interested early and keep them hooked.