What does nicotine do?

Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical that’s found in all vapes, cigarettes, snus and pouches. 

Even though it’s illegal to sell nicotine products to under-18s in the UK, around 20% have tried vaping and 7% currently vape.

Vaping and other nicotine products may not be as dangerous as smoking cigarettes, but they still carry risks to your health.

“I started 4 years ago. I wish I'd never done it. It helps to distract me when I am struggling with my mental health. I can't quit. I am worried about the effects it has on my health.”

The main reasons for young people using nicotine products are for socialising or stress management. 

Socialising

Vaping can be a ‘social prop’ if you’re feeling nervous or shy, and if everyone else is doing it then it can help you feel like you’re fitting in. 

Stress management

Vaping tricks you into thinking it’s relieving anxiety. But really, it’s only fixing the anxiety it caused in the first place (cravings can be stressful).

Instead of dealing with a difficult emotion like sadness, anger or frustration, it’s tempting to reach for a vape to distract yourself. This is sometimes called “emotional masking”.

Social media makes it look like everyone’s vaping, but the facts tell us something different.

Children and young people in Warwickshire told us:

• Only 7% of 11-17 year-olds currently vape.
• 20% say they have tried a vape at some point. 
• Only 3% say they vape daily.

Nicotine reaches your brain in seconds, which can feel relaxing. 

But the calm feeling doesn’t last, and you quickly want more. That’s why nicotine is so addictive.

Over time, nicotine can make you more stressed, anxious and irritable. You may begin to struggle to focus or relax without it, and things like school, hobbies and sleep feel harder.

The more nicotine you have, the more you want, so the cost adds up quickly, too.

"I don’t like it but I’m addicted to it. If it was easy to stop I would."

The more you use nicotine products, the more money tobacco companies make. 

They want more people to be addicted, so they use tricks to pull you in, like:

• Sweet flavours that taste like fruit 
• Bright, eye-catching colours 
• Online posts and ads that make vaping look normal

The World Health Organisation (WHO)’s report Hooking the Next Generation, says:

“These industries are actively targeting schools, children and young people with new products that are essentially a candy-flavoured trap”.

• You can get addicted to nicotine in just 6 weeks of regular use
• The more you vape, the harder it is to stop
• Teens who vape are more likely to start smoking later
• Quitting gets easier over time