For Teens: Know the Risks of Smoking and Vaping

Have you ever seen adults who smoke all the time? When they run out of cigarettes, they’re mad, frustrated, and may even yell at you. You already know smoking causes lung cancer. What else do you risk if you smoke? And what are the risks of vaping?

Your health risks

Right away, you may cough, wheeze, and have a sore throat. You may also have a headache, feel dizzy, and be nauseated—that’s the nicotine reaching your brain usually within seconds of taking the first puff. Nicotine is highly addictive and vaping products contain high levels, sometimes higher than cigarettes. Over time, you risk lung and throat cancer, and lung diseases like emphysema and bronchitis.

Your personal risks

You know what it’s like, being around people who smoke: they have bad breath and their clothes and hair smell bad. Some people say kissing a person who smokes is like licking an ashtray. Smoking can cost you hundreds of dollars a year. You also risk permanently stained, yellow teeth and fingers.

Vaping exposes your lungs to aerosol containing chemicals and tiny particles. These products are highly addictive and the long-term risks are not clearly understood, though some of the chemicals are known to be harmful. Studies show that teens who vape are at higher risk of smoking regular cigarettes. 

Why some kids smoke

• “I smoke/vape now because I’m young and healthy, and I could quit anytime.’’

• “My older brother smokes/vpes. Both my parents do, too. They look fine to me.’’

• “Smoking/vaping is sexy. A lot of us girls smoke/vape because it looks good. Just look at the ads.’’

What really happens

• “I have to quit before the coach lets me on the team. I’ve tried to quit twice so far.’’

• “I just found out my dad has lung cancer from smoking. He’s in the hospital now.’’

• “My boyfriend says he could never be serious about someone who smokes.’’

Other tobacco products

• These include smokeless tobacco (chew, dip), e-cigarettes, vaping devices, and hookahs.

• They are all tobacco products. They contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. Getting hooked on nicotine puts your health at risk. 

For help quitting tobacco products, these resources are available to you:

• Smokefree Teen: https://teen.smokefree.gov/
• This is Quitting: https://truthinitiative.org/thisisquitting