Vaping

Vaping risks

Vaping isn't harmless. More than 2,800 people have been hospitalized with an e-cigarette or vaping-related lung injury, including deaths in 29 states.

These are only some of the dangers and risks associated with vaping:

• Contain dangerous cancer-causing chemicals and heavy metals
• Devices can explode or catch fire
• Increased risk for use of other tobacco and nicotine products
• Increased risk for use of marijuana and substance use
• Increased risk for developing other substance use or addiction disorders. Teen brains are still under development, increasing the risk of addiction.
• Associated with poor mental health outcomes
• Impacts teen mental health
• Impacts creation of synapses in the developing brain
• Secondhand smoke exposure
• Exposure to many cancer-causing chemicals
• Lung damage and lung scarring
• Other organ damage like heart damage, narrowing arteries and raised blood pressure 

Understanding social smoking & vaping

Social smoking is extremely common among college students and on college campuses. In fact, 70% of college students who smoke are characterized as social smokers. Smoking or vaping only when in a group setting with friends or only when going out and drinking is still dangerous and harmful to a person's health.

The biggest danger of social smoking is that it can easily lead to a nicotine addiction and smoking or vaping more regularly. Other dangers of “social smoking” are an increased risk for heart disease, lung and throat related cancers and respiratory infections.

Vaping access & availability

Teens often have access to vapes and e-cigarettes. In fact, 43% of 11th grade students reported it is very easy to get access to vapes or e-cigarettes. That's more common than alcohol access.

Marketing strategies from vape and e-cigarette companies are often very appealing to teens. Be aware of their influence:

• Creating appealing flavors, like fruit and candy flavors
• Using creative and fun packaging, which is now banned
• Available to buy online
• Exposure to ads, through the internet and social media

Ingredients found in e-cigarettes 

Do you really know what you're inhaling? Most e-cigarette juices contain the following ingredients:

• Nicotine. Makes vaping addictive.
• Vitamin E acetate. Associated with lung injury.
• Diacetyl, acrolein, and diethylene glycol. Linked to lung cancer.
• Acetaldehyde and formaldehyde. Cancer-causing chemicals.
• Heavy metals like lead and tin. Toxic when inhaled.

Tips to help you quit 

Quitting vaping may not be easy, in fact it may take you multiple tries to quit and that's okay. There are many resources out there to help you quit. Quitlines can provide information, answer questions, offer a listening ear and more. 

• Visit Quitline Iowa, or MyLifeMyQuit, Iowa's teen-centered program to help you quit smoking
• Tell a friend or family member to keep yourself accountable
• Stay busy or find distractions you enjoy
• Exercise and be active
• Talk to a healthcare professional
• Know your triggers and do your best to avoid them
• Know your reason for quitting

Withdrawal symptoms

Knowing some of the withdrawal symptoms before you experience them may help you be better prepared. Symptoms may peak within the first week and start to go away after only the first month.

Withdrawal symptoms include:

• Anxiety/depression
• Increased appetite/hunger
• Restlessness and difficulty concentrating
• Irritability and anger
• Intense cravings
• Headaches