Tobacco, E-Cigarettes, and Vaping
Do you know what’s in your e-cigarette or vape? The aerosol ― that you breathe in and exhale ― can contain:
- Nicotine – which is addictive
- Cancer-causing chemicals
- Heavy metals – such as nickel, tin, and lead
- Flavorings – such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Ultrafine particles – that reach deep into the lungs
The Smoke
There are more than 7,000 chemicals in commercial tobacco smoke. (Such as: ammonia, benzene, butane, hydrogen cyanide, and toluene.) This includes hundreds of chemicals that are toxic, and about 70 that can cause cancer.
There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke can cause heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer in people who don’t smoke. Children are especially vulnerable.
Health Effects
Smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S.
Smoking harms nearly every organ in the body ― heart and blood vessel disease; lung disease; cancer (almost anywhere in your body); and impacts to your bones, eyes, teeth, gums, fertility and pregnancy.
When You Quit
- In minutes: Your heart rate drops.
- In 24 hours: Nicotine level in your blood drops to zero.
- In several days: Carbon monoxide in your blood drops to the level of someone who doesn’t smoke.
- Over time, you decrease your risks of heart disease, stroke, and cancer. You increase your ability to support a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.
The Time is Now
Visit smokefree.gov or text QUIT to 47848 (No matter whether you smoke, chew, dip, vape, hookah, or something else.) Tools and tips include:
- Building your quit plan
- Medications (patch, gum, lozenge, inhaler, nasal spray)
- Managing withdrawal and cravings
- Staying smoke free for good
- Helping others quit
- Smokefree text messaging
- Smokefree app
Find your state’s quitline, by calling 800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669).
Resources
Individuals and Families
- Smokefree.gov
- You Can Quit Tobacco
- Truth Initiative
- Health Effects of Cigarette Smoking
- Know the Risks: E-Cigarettes and Young People
- E-Cigarettes
- Secondhand Smoke
Parents and Caregivers
Teens
- Tips for Teens: The Truth About E-Cigarettes (Available in Spanish)
- Tips for Teens: The Truth About Tobacco (Available in Spanish)
Community Members and Practitioners
Reducing Vaping Among Youth and Young Adults
Reducing Vaping Among Youth and Young Adults
This guide supports health care providers, systems, and communities seeking to prevent vaping.
Implementing Tobacco Cessation Programs in SUD Treatment Settings
Implementing Tobacco Cessation Programs in SUD Treatment Settings
This guide contains an overview of the challenges associated with tobacco cessation.
Find more resources on tobacco, e-cigarettes, and vaping on the SAMHSA Store.
Need Help?
For mental or substance use disorders, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) or TTY: 1-800-487-4889, or text your zip code to 435748 (HELP4U), or use the FindTreatment.gov to get help.