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The Hub: Behavioral Health Action Organization for Southwestern CT
A division of the Regional Youth Adult Social Action Partnership (RYASAP)
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Nicotine & Vaping
DID YOU KNOW?
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Nicotine is the leading preventable cause of death and disease in the country.
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Teens and young adults are more likely to ingest nicotine by vaping than smoking... but vaping nicotine increases the likelihood of becoming a smoker.
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Vaping, just like smoking, is bad for your lungs and increases risk of illness from COVID-19.
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Second-hand smoke is dangerous whether it's from cigarettes or vapes.
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Vapes are frequently used for marijuana.
E-Cigarettes are devices that heat a solution to a high enough temperature that enables them to produce an aerosol and be inhaled.
E-cigarettes, also referred to as vapes, mods and vape pens, come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Some resemble regular cigarettes, pipes, or cigars. Others look like pens, USB sticks, and other common items. But no matter how they look, vape solutions are most commonly made up of nicotine, flavoring, and a humectant, such as propylene glycol, all of which are harmful to the developing brain and body. While the majority of the flavorings and humectants are FDA approved for consumption, they have not been approved for inhalation, and the extent of negative health consequences of inhalation remain unknown.
The main ingredient in most e-cigarettes is nicotine, the addictive substance found in regular cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and other tobacco products.
Other harmful ingredients in include:
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Volatile organic compounds
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Ultrafine particles
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Cancer causing chemicals
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Heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead
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Flavorings such as diacetyl, a chemical that has been linked to serious lung disease
It is not easy for e-cigarette users to know exactly what ingredients their e-cigarettes contain. Some e-cigarettes that are marketed as nicotine free do in fact contain nicotine.
Disposable e-cigarettes are the most common among youth today and come in many flavors. Common flavors include mint, menthol, and tobacco.
From 2017-2022, sales of disposable e-cigarettes containing more than 5% nicotine rose from 0% to 90% of the market share. Products with less than 1% of nicotine only accounted for less than 0.1% of sales.
The price of e-cigarettes containing the highest levels of nicotine has either decreased or stayed the same, while the price of e-cigarettes containing lower levels of nicotine are more expensive. Since younger people are shown to be more sensitive to price, they are more likely to opt for the higher nicotine content products.
Studies show that more than 90% of disposable e-cigarettes sold contain the highest levels of nicotine
Flavored Tobacco & Vapes: Why are they harmful?
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Flavors play a very big role in why youth and teens are so easily addicted to e-cigarettes because it makes them easier to use and harder to quit.
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43% of young users tried e-cigarettes for the first time because of their appealing flavors. The most popular flavors include fruit, mint, menthol, and sweets or candy.
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The FDA reports that among current youth users, 97% of them used a flavored product in the last month.
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The FDA is proposing rules to ban sales of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigar products from the market, and many states have begun to ban the sales of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol.
General Information
Youth nicotine use in any form is unsafe and has serious health consequences.
Younger users have a higher risk of becoming addicted to nicotine, have more difficulty trying to quit, and are more likely to become addicted to other substances in the future.
According to the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey, over 2.5 million U.S kids used e-cigarettes in 2022.
In 2021, 46% of high school students admitted to using e-cigarettes at least 20 days out of the month, while 30.1% reported using them daily.
85% of youth use flavored e-cigarette products, with the most common including fruit, candy/desserts/sweets, and mint or menthol.
Research shows that many kids start using nicotine products as a way to cope with anxiety, stress, and depression.
Local Information
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Health Effects
What makes e-cigarettes harmful?
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Propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, two primary ingredients, are toxic to cells. The higher the concentration, the more toxic it becomes.
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E-cigarettes emit harsh chemicals such as acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde. These chemicals can cause lung and heart disease.
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Secondhand smoke from an e-cigarette can contain nicotine, ultrafine particles, chemical flavorings, volatile organic compounds such as benzene, and heavy metals.
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Evidence shows that youth and young adults that use e-cigarettes are at a higher risk of coughing and wheezing, and have a higher risk of developing asthma. Over time, inhalation of harmful chemicals can cause lung disease and permanent damage.
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Nicotine use during adolescence can harm the developing brain, specifically the parts responsible for attention, memory, and learning.
Nicotine can alter nerve cell functioning in developing organisms, specifically during fetal development.
E-cigarettes and other nicotine containing products should not be used during pregnancy.
Pregnant women who use nicotine products have a higher risk of stillbirth and preterm delivery.
Some vaping products are being illegally offered for sale with unproven health or wellness claims, including improving mental clarity or treating tumors or asthma. Some examples of these companies’ fraudulent product claims are:
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“Fight off tumors and alleviate symptoms of chemotherapy!”
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“It's been used as a [sic] organic asthma remedy, ADHD remedy, and dementia treatment.”
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“Helps prevent a type of anemia called megaloblastic anemia that makes people tired and weak.”
Read more.
Emerging Trend: Oral Nicotine Pouches & Lozenges
Oral nicotine pouches and lozenges are a new emerging tobacco product on the market. Brands of these products include Zyn, On!, and Velo, and the products come in many flavors that appeal to youth. Flavors include mango, cinnamon, honey lemon, citrus burst, black cherry, and various mint or menthol flavors.
These products are derived from tobacco and do contain nicotine. The FDA does not classify them as smokeless tobacco products since they do not contain a tobacco leaf, however they are still very harmful to youth.
Oral nicotine products can contain as much as 6 milligrams of nicotine per pouch.
Quitting
Millions of Americans set out to quit tobacco products each year.
Studies show that nearly half of young e-cigarette users say they want to quit or have tried to quit in the past.
Evidence shows that quitting vaping is directly tied to improved mental health symptoms, including anxiety, depression, and stress.
According to surveys, out of people who quit vaping:
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90% said they feel less anxious, stressed, and depressed.
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47% said they feel more in control
Nicotine is addicting, and there are many withdrawal symptoms when use stops.
Tips for dealing with nicotine withdrawal:
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Exercise
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Use a distraction
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Lean on your support system
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Find other outlets for coping with stress
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Celebrate your accomplishments
Quitting Resources
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CT Quitline: 1-800-QUIT-NOW
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For teens and young adults, text VapeFreeCT to 88709
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More CT resources here.
The Truth Initiative has launched This Is Quitting, an anonymous text service designed to help young people quit vaping.
Text DITCHVAPE to 88709 to start today.
The American Lung Association also has various programs to assist and support quitting nicotine and tobacco products.
The Law
Effective December 20, 2019, the legal age to purchase and use tobacco products was raised from 18+ to 21+.
It is illegal for any retailer to sell any tobacco product, including e-cigarettes, to anyone under the age of 21.
The T21 law applies to all tobacco products:
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Cigarettes
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Smokeless tobacco
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Hookah tobacco
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Cigars
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Pipe tobacco
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All electronic nicotine delivery systems - e-cigarettes and e-liquids