General Facts about Tobacco/Nicotine and Vaping:

Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death and leads to disease and disability and harms nearly every organ of the body.

People can smoke, chew, or sniff tobacco. Smoked tobacco products include cigarettes, cigars, bidis, and kreteks. Some people also smoke loose tobacco in a pipe or hookah (water pipe). Chewed tobacco products include chewing tobacco, snuff, dip, and snus; snuff can also be sniffed. Electronic cigarettes are used to vape nicotine products.

Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the mid-20s.

Side Effects of Tobacco/Nicotine and Vaping:

• Coughing

• Phlegm

• Reduced lung function

• Pneumonia

• Bronchitis

• Lung Cancer

• Heart disease and high blood pressure

• Increased risk of heart attack and stroke

• Increased risk of early delivery and stillbirth when used during pregnancy

• Sores in the mouth

• Mouth, Tongue, Cheek, Gum and Esophagus Cancers from chewing tobacco

• Pancreatic Cancer

(American Cancer Society)

Tobacco/Nicotine and Vaping and the Body:

• Smoking causes cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung diseases, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which includes emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

• Smoking also increases risk for tuberculosis, certain eye diseases, and problems of the immune system, including rheumatoid arthritis.

• Smoking is a major cause of coronary heart disease, which can lead to a heart attack.

• Lowers your ability to exercise, and makes your blood more likely to clot.

(CDC)

Signs of Addiction to Tobacco/Nicotine:

For some people, using any amount of tobacco can lead to nicotine dependence. Signs that you or someone you know may be addicted include:

• Can't stop smoking/chewing/vaping. You've made one or more serious, but unsuccessful, attempts to stop.

• Have withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop. Your attempts at stopping have caused physical and mood-related symptoms, such as strong cravings, anxiety, irritability, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, depressed mood, frustration, anger, increased hunger, insomnia, constipation or diarrhea.

• Keep smoking despite health problems. Even though you've developed health problems with your lungs or your heart, you haven't been able to stop.

• Give up social activities. You may stop going to smoke-free events or stop socializing with family/friends because you can't smoke in these situations.

(Mayo Clinic)

Nicotine is in most vapes, including JUUL. Nicotine is very addictive. The more you vape, the more your brain and body get used to having nicotine, and the harder it is to go without it. When you go without vaping, the nicotine level in your bloodstream drops, which may cause unpleasant feelings, physical symptoms, and strong urges to vape. This is nicotine addiction.

If you answer yes to one or more of these questions, you may be addicted to vaping.

• Do you continue to vape even though you want to stop or think it’s hurting you in some way?

• Do you feel anxious or irritable when you want to use your vape but can’t?

• Do thoughts about vaping interrupt you when you are focused on other activities?

• Do you still vape after getting in trouble with your parents or school for vaping?

• Have you ever tried to stop vaping but couldn’t?

• Do you feel like you have lost control over your vaping?

(US Dept of Health and Human Services)