Vaping is the act of inhaling the aerosol from an e-cigarette. E-cigarettes are electronic devices that deliver nicotine and other chemicals directly to the lungs. They can be refillable or disposable.
They are also known as:
The aerosol that is inhaled from the e-cigarette is not water vapor. In fact, the "vapor" contains cancer-causing chemicals, heavy metals, nicotine, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ultrafine particles, and flavorings known to cause lung damage.
Aerosol inhaled from an e-cigarette is not only water vapor. It contains chemicals that are dangerous to health. This short video shows the difference between e-cigarette aerosol and the water vapor produced in a shower using a common air quality meter.
Nicotine use by teens can lead to problems with attention and learning, mood disorders, impulse control, and addiction. Human brains are not fully developed until age 25. When children and teens vape:
Your teen may show signs of nicotine withdrawal when they can’t use their vape. These are some the symptoms of withdrawal:
The Surgeon General reported that vaping by high school students increased 900 percent from 2011 to 2015, bypassing all other tobacco products. In 2019, more than one in every four middle and high students reported vaping at least once.
Early data shows the following, but more studies are still needed.
If you are pregnant and vape or use other tobacco products, it is in the best interest of your health and the health of your baby to quit. If you or your child is vaping, or using any nicotine products, it also is in the best interest of your health to quit. The following resources are available to help.
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