Nicotine and vaping
Most vapes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm the parts of a teen's brain that control attention, learning, mood and impulse control. No tobacco product is safe. If you vape and want to stop, you're in good company, and free help works.
What to know
- Know what's in it. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, and nicotine is highly addictive (CDC).
- Make a quit plan, and set a quit day. Planning ahead makes quitting easier (Smokefree Teen).
- Know your triggers, the things that make you want to vape, and plan what you'll do instead (Smokefree Teen).
- Expect withdrawal. Nicotine withdrawal is real when you quit, and there are ways to cope with it and with cravings (Smokefree Teen).
- Get free coaching. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) to talk confidentially with a quit coach. In Spanish, call 1-855-335-3569 (CDC).
Watch out. Vaping won't fix stress, anxiety or a low mood, and those feelings can trigger cravings. Find other ways to cope (Smokefree Teen). If you're struggling, talk to someone you trust.
If it doesn't work
- Slipped and vaped again? Don't quit quitting. Figure out what triggered it and plan for it next time (Smokefree Teen).
- Want help by text? Truth Initiative's free EX Program includes text message support in English and Spanish (Truth Initiative).
- Feeling really down? Call or text 988 any time.
Good to know
You're not the only one
In 2020, 63.9% of middle and high school students who vaped said they wanted to quit, and 67.4% had tried in the past year (CDC).
It adds up
Vaping may cost you more than you think (Smokefree Teen). Add up a month of what you spend.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth and e-cigarettes
- National Cancer Institute (Smokefree Teen) Quit vaping
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Quitlines
- Truth Initiative This is Quitting
Lesson B9.2 · Last checked October 2, 2026 against the sources listed. See a mistake?
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