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Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine—the addictive drug in regular cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products.
A recent CDC study found that 99% of the e-cigarettes sold in the United States contained nicotine.

Some e-cigarette labels do not disclose that they contain nicotine, and some e-cigarettes marketed as containing 0% nicotine have been found to contain nicotine.

Nicotine can harm the developing adolecent brain, especially the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control.

Each time a new memory is created or a new skill is learned, stronger connections – or synapses – are built between brain cells. Young people’s brains build synapses faster than adult brains. Nicotine changes the way these synapses are formed.

Using nicotine in adolescence may also increase risk for future addiction to other drugs. ²

E-cigarette aerosol is NOT harmless “water vapor.”

The e-cigarette aerosol that users breathe from the device and exhale can contain harmful and potentially harmful substances, including:

Nicotine
Ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs
Flavorings such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease
Volatile organic compounds
Cancer-causing chemicals
Heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead

The aerosol that users inhale and
exhale from e-cigarettes can expose both themselves and bystanders to harmful substances.

It is impossible for consumers to really know what e-cigarette products contain. ²

Scientists are still learning about the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes.

Some of the ingredients in e-cigarette aerosol could also be harmful to the lungs in the long-term. For example, some e-cigarette flavorings may be safe to eat but not to inhale because the gut can process more substances than the lungs.

Defective e-cigarette batteries have caused some fires and explosions, a few of which have resulted in serious injuries.

Children and adults have been poisoned by swallowing, breathing, or absorbing e-cigarette liquid through their skin or eyes. Nationally, approximately 50% of calls to poison control centers for e-cigarettes are for kids 5 years of age or

younger.

Help your teen create an “exit plan” in case he or she is offered an e-cigarette or faced with a difficult decision about vaping (such as texting a code word to a family member). Peer pressure can be powerful, so coming up with realistic action steps and practicing them together in a safe environment will prepare and empower your teen to make good choices when it matters.

It’s never too late to start talking with your teen about the risks of vaping. As teens age, they make more decisions on their own and face greater temptation and peer pressure. Though it may not seem like it, teens really do hear your concerns. It’s important you help them understand what e-cigarettes and other vaping products are, and why they shouldn’t use them. ³

Recognizing signs of vaping can be difficult if you don’t know what to look for. One of the most telling signs that your teen may be vaping is the presence of vaping equipment among his or her belongings. Vaping equipment includes e-cigarettes, flavored liquid bottles, and small pods or cartridges that can contain THC oil. It’s important to know that e-cigarettes come in many different shapes and sizes, and may not resemble a tobacco product. Many often resemble a pen or flash drive that can be plugged into a laptop to charge. ³

The EX Program provides an enterprise-level tobacco cessation program designed for employers and health plans. The EX Program has an active social network of thousands of smokers and ex-smokers and delivers proven quit-smoking treatment via interactive quitting tools and video, live chat, text message, email, and quit medication. It also includes personalized, digital coaching and medication support from tobacco treatment specialists at the Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center and Truth Initiative. Find out more.

Operation Parent

Operation Parent is a passionate group of parents who understand how the right resources, provided at the right time, can positively impact families for generations to come. They provide monthly webinars, e-books, videos, and other resources provide parents with the latest information on today’s toughest parenting issues related to technology, alcohol and drugs, mental health, risky relationships, and more. Operation Parent connects parents with the tools they need to encourage them along their journey, providing additional information and connection to other parents through social media.