Vape facts - What you need to know

A vape device is a battery-powered device that heats a liquid chemical (e-liquid), into an aerosol (sometimes called a “vapour” or “cloud”). Vape devices are known by several names, including e-cigarettes, e-hookahs, mods, vape pens, vapes, tank systems or by a brand name.

The aerosol is made up of chemical particles, often including nicotine, which can be inhaled – this is called vaping. Metal particles like nickel, tin and aluminum can also be found in the aerosol when the components of the device are heated. The aerosol is not harmless water vapour and is now known to have health risks. Vaping can increase your exposure to potentially harmful chemicals and metals.

What is in e-liquid?

E-liquid contains propylene glycol (PG), vegetable glycerin (VG), artificial flavouring and other chemicals. When the e-liquid is heated, other chemicals are created, like formaldehyde, which is known to cause cancer. Although e-liquid does not contain tobacco, most of these products contain nicotine, which is the highly addictive substance found in cigarettes and other commercial tobacco products, such as chew and hookah.  

Vaping has health risks

It’s true that the long-term effects of vaping are still being researched, but here’s what we know so far:

• Lung damage: Vaping can make it hard for you to breathe, causing symptoms like wheeze and cough. It can also worsen existing lung conditions like asthma
• Stress on the heart: Vaping nicotine can increase your heart rate and blood pressure, putting pressure on the heart. This can also make you feel stressed or anxious. Using both cigarettes and vapes can increase this risk even more
• Oral health problems: The chemical known as propylene glycol (PG) is found in vapes and absorbs moisture (like saliva), which can lead to dry mouth. Dry mouth can lead to tooth decay, gum infections, changes in taste and bad breath
• Eye and throat irritation: Chemical particles found in vapes can cause eye and throat irritation
• Nicotine poisoning: E-liquids contain enough nicotine to cause serious harm, especially if absorbed through your skin, mouth or eyes – even in small amounts
• Addiction: Nicotine is a highly addictive drug and the main ingredient found in most vapes and other tobacco products like cigarettes

Highly addictive nicotine found in vapes can be extracted from the tobacco plant or made chemically in a lab. Every form of nicotine has risks.

Your brain is still developing until you are about 25 years old. This is why is takes less nicotine and time to become addicted. Did you know vaping products can contain more nicotine than 20 cigarettes? That’s a whole pack!

Using nicotine before your brain is fully developed can lead to:

• Memory issues
• Trouble learning
• Trouble concentrating
• Mood Swings
• Changes in behaviour
• Dependence (addiction)

How does this happen?

While your brain is still developing, each time a new memory is created or a new skill is learned, your brain is building stronger connections (synapses) between brain cells.

Your brain builds connections faster than adult brains. Nicotine changes the way these connections are made, impacting healthy brain development and even increasing the risk of addictions to substances like cigarettes and other drugs.

Advertising in the media or through social media can make it seem like vapes can help deal with feelings of stress and anxiety, but vaping can actually make these feelings worse.

Nicotine in vapes is highly addictive. When a person becomes addicted to nicotine and stops using it, their body and brain have to get used to not having nicotine. This can lead to nicotine cravings and withdrawal and can cause feelings like:

• Being “on edge,” irritable or anxious
• Tired or groggy
• Sweating
• Low mood or feeling sad
• Trouble concentrating
• Trouble sleeping
• Headaches, and more

Using nicotine can make these symptoms go away for a little while but as nicotine levels in the body wear off, these feelings come back.

Vaping messes with the natural chemicals (neurotransmitters) in the brain. Nicotine found in most vapes, increases stress chemicals (cortisol), which causes increased heart rate, breathing and blood pressure. This is the same reaction people have when they are scared or stressed. It is the exact opposite of what your body does when it is calm.

The tobacco and vape industry use marketing techniques that promote their products in ways that target young people – specifically teens.

The industry uses strategies that appeal to young people including colourful and “cool” packaging, popular flavours, and even social media influencers and celebrities that endorse products. This means more young people will buy these products and the industry will make more money. These marketing techniques are designed to falsely make people believe vape and tobacco products are safe, helpful and even a “normal” part of life, influencing young people to try them.

It is important that you are careful and think critically about what the industry is actually trying to sell. Make your own informed choices after knowing the real facts about the risks of these products.

Quitting vaping is one of the best things you can do to improve your health. Other benefits of quitting include:

• More money in your pocket
• Less worry about smelly clothes
• More energy

Tips to get started

1. Make a list of all the reasons you want to quit and post it in a place where you’ll see it frequently
2. Tell other people that you’re quitting and ask them to support you
3. Talk with a health care professional or other safe adult
4. Choose a “quit date” and stick to it
5. Use an app to help you set reminders and mark milestones or quit with a friend
6. Go easy on yourself and celebrate successes

Setbacks can happen, but remember, quitting is a process that can take several tries. Research shows that the chances of quitting for good increases with every try.

Quit Supports

• Youth Nicotine and Vaping Treatment Program (CAMH): A tobacco and nicotine use treatment program provided by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH). To enroll in treatment at CAMH’s Nicotine Dependence Clinic: Call Access CAMH at 416-535-8501 and select option 2
• Quash: A free vaping/smoking quit app for ages 14-30 focusing on behaviour change strategies to help young people cut down or quit the way they want to
• Stop Vaping Challenge: A free quit vaping app youth can use with friends. It allows users to earn badges, challenge friends and track cravings
• Crush the Crave: A free app that provides supportive messages, virtual awards and help to deal with vape cravings. Track the number of days you stay vape-free, amount of money saved and triggers
• Nod from 2050: A website that encourages youth to reflect on their long-term goals with respect to vaping nicotine. It is informed by research on specific techniques associated with higher success in successful behaviour change, including supporting identity change and developing a vivid mental image of becoming an ex-vaper
• Not an Experiment – Quit Plan: A free online quit plan that can be printed and is small enough to keep in a pocket, wallet or backpack. Youth can complete the quit plan online and print, or booklets can be printed and completed by hand
• I Quit for Me (Health Canada): I quit for me aims to help youth ages 14 to18 quit smoking and/or vaping. Written specifically for youth, the guide is available in digital and print formats, and can be used on their own, or as part of a facilitated group program
• Smokers’ Helpline: Offers online resources and a texting program for people looking to quit vaping, smoking or both. To join the Smokers’ Helpline text program, text ‘iQuit’ to 123456
• Kids Help Phone: Kids Help Phone is always open, offering mental health support and a non-judgmental space to young people across Canada. Youth can learn more, build skills, connect with other youth and receiving direct counselling supports