What Is Vaping?
Vaping is the inhaling of an aerosol (mist) created by an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or other vaping device.
E-cigarettes (often called vape pens) are battery-operated vaping devices that heat a liquid until it becomes an aerosol (mist), which is inhaled. The aerosol is not just water vapor. It usually contains nicotine, other harmful chemicals, and flavorings. Even e-cigarettes that claim to have no nicotine have been found to contain nicotine. Some might contain marijuana, herbs, or oils.
Some e-cigarettes are disposable and designed for one-time use. When the liquid is used up or the battery dies, the user throws the device away. Others can be refilled with liquid, recharged, and used over and over. Some people buy pre-filled cartridges for the e-cigarette. Others buy a bottle of liquid and refill the e-cigarette as needed.
What Are the Health Effects of Vaping?
The health risks of vaping include:
- addiction: E-cigarettes contain nicotine, a drug that’s highly addictive. You don’t have to vape every day to get addicted.
- anxiety and depression: Nicotine makes anxiety and depression worse. It also affects memory, concentration, self-control, and attention, especially in developing brains.
- becoming a smoker: People who vape are more likely to start smoking regular (tobacco) cigarettes and may be more likely to develop other addictions in the future.
- impotence: There is some evidence that vaping can cause sexual dysfunction in men.
- sleep problems
- exposure to cancer-causing chemicals
- chronic bronchitis
- lung damage that can be life-threatening
- Other health effects are possible that we don’t yet know about. Vaping hasn’t been around that long, so its health risks aren’t all known
Dangers of Vaping?
Wanting to be the best, healthiest version of yourself is an important reason never to start vaping or to quit vaping. Others include:
Addiction: Addiction in the growing brain may set up pathways for later addiction to other substances.
Brain risks: Nicotine affects your brain development. This can make it harder to learn and concentrate. Some of the brain changes are permanent and can affect your mood and ability to control your impulses as an adult.
Use of other tobacco products: Studies show that vaping makes it more likely that someone will try other tobacco products, like regular cigarettes, cigars, hookahs, and smokeless tobacco.
Toxins (poisons): The aerosol made from e-cigarettes is not made only of water. It contains harmful chemicals and very fine particles that are inhaled into the lungs and exhaled into the environment.
Sports: You want to do your best in sports, and vaping may lead to lung inflammation (irritation), which can make it harder to do well in sports.
Money: Vaping is expensive! The cost of the cartridges over time starts to add up. Instead, you could spend that money on other things you need or enjoy.
To go against tobacco company advertising: Many e-cigarettes are made by the same companies that produce regular cigarettes. Their marketing targets young people by making fun flavors for e-cigarettes and showing young, healthy people vaping. They’re trying to make you their next lifetime customer.
How can I say no?
Here are some skills you can use to refuse vaping:
- Say no: You can say “no thanks” or “I don’t want to vape.”
- Give an excuse: You can say something like “I don’t like it anymore” or “it gives me a headache.” You can also try guilt reasons, like “Ugh my little brother saw me vape the other day and cried. I feel so guilty.”
- Suggest something else: You can suggest a different activity, like “I’d rather dance and eat something. I’m starved.”
- Delay your answer: You can say something like “Maybe another time.”
- Make a joke: Reply with something like “do you know the REAL reason why dinosaurs became extinct? They vaped” or “No, the only thing I need to hit is the gym.”
- Leave the situation: You can walk away, leave the conversation, or leave the location.
- Avoid the situation: You can try to avoid situations where you might have a hard time saying no. You can also try hanging out with non-users.
Other tips:
- Sometimes it’s easier to avoid than turn down a vape to your friend’s face. Are a group of friends going to hang out in a particular place where they all vape? You can bail on that if you think it’s going to be too hard to say no.
- Be prepared to have to repeat yourself. It’s hard to know why friends sometimes seem to *need* YOU to vape, but that’s not on you. Remember going in that you may have to be persistent.
- If you are trying or have recently quit, do you have friends you can ask to help you? Tell them you’ve quit and that you really want to stick to it. Maybe they will be on your team.
- If it were any other substance (like alcohol, weed or a pill) would you struggle to say “no thanks”? Probably not. But we want to help you stick to your convictions and what you really want for yourself in any situation.
RESOURCES
NATIONAL RESOURCES
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- Truth Initiative: Provides education, support, and resources to help individuals quit vaping and smoking. truthinitiative.org
- Smokefree Teen: Offers tools and tips to help teens quit vaping, including a text message program. teen.smokefree.gov
- American Lung Association: Provides resources and support for quitting vaping, including the “Not On Tobacco” program for teens. 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) lung.org
- National Cancer Institute (NCI) Quitline: Offers free, confidential support for quitting vaping and smoking. 1-877-44U-QUIT (1-877-448-7848) smokefree.gov
- The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids: Provides advocacy, resources, and information to prevent youth vaping and help those trying to quit. tobaccofreekids.org
WV RESOURCES
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- West Virginia Tobacco Quitline: Offers free cessation services, including counseling and nicotine replacement therapy, to residents of West Virginia. 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) Website: wvquitline.com
- West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR): Provides various programs and resources for quitting tobacco and vaping, including educational materials and support services. 1-800-642-8589 Website: dhhr.wv.gov
- West Virginia University (WVU) Health Sciences Center: Offers research-based programs and resources to help individuals quit vaping and smoking. Website: hsc.wvu.edu