Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that naturally occurs in the tobacco plant. Tobacco products include regular cigarettes, smokeless tobacco (i.e. chewing tobacco or snuff), and pipes. It is also the main ingredient in e-cigarettes, which are devices that heat a solution to a high enough temperature that enables them to produce an aerosol and be inhaled.
E-cigarettes, also called vapes, mods, and vape pens, come in various sizes, shapes, and colors. ome resemble regular cigarettes, pipes, or cigars. Others look like pens, USB sticks, and other everyday items. But no matter how they look, their solutions consist of nicotine, flavoring, and a humectant, such as propylene glycol—all of which are harmful to the developing brain and body. While most flavorings and humectants are FDA-approved for consumption, they have not been approved for inhalation, and the extent of adverse health consequences of inhalation remains unknown.
Other harmful ingredients include:
- Volatile organic compounds
- Ultrafine particles
- Cancer-causing chemicals
- Heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead
- Flavorings such as diacetyl, a chemical that has been linked to serious lung disease
It is not easy for e-cigarette users to know exactly what ingredients their e-cigarettes contain. Some e-cigarettes that are marketed as nicotine-free do contain nicotine. Source
Studies show that more than 90% of disposable e-cigarettes sold contain the highest levels of nicotine. From 2017-2022, sales of disposable e-cigarettes containing more than 5% nicotine rose from 0% to 90% of the market share. Products with less than 1% nicotine only accounted for less than 0.1% of sales. Source
The price of e-cigarettes containing the highest levels of nicotine has either decreased or stayed the same, while the price of e-cigarettes containing lower levels of nicotine are more expensive. Since younger people are shown to be more sensitive to price, they are more likely to opt for products with higher nicotine content. Studies show that more than 90% of disposable e-cigarettes sold contain the highest levels of nicotine.
Flavored Tobacco
Disposable e-cigarettes are the most common among youth today and come in many flavors. Common flavors include mint, menthol, and tobacco.
- Flavors play a very big role in why youth and teens are so quickly addicted to e-cigarettes because it makes them easier to use and harder to quit.
- 43% of young users tried e-cigarettes for the first time because of their appealing flavors. The most popular flavors include fruit, mint, menthol, and sweets or candy.
- The FDA reports that 97% of current youth users used a flavored product in the last month. The FDA is proposing rules to ban sales of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigar products from the market, and many states have begun to ban the sales of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol.
Data
Emerging Trend: Oral Nicotine Pouches & Lozenges
Oral nicotine products
Oral nicotine pouches and lozenges are a new emerging tobacco product on the market. Brands of these products include Zyn, On!, and Velo, and the products come in many flavors that appeal to youth. Flavors include mango, cinnamon, honey lemon, citrus burst, black cherry, and various mint or menthol flavors.
These products are derived from tobacco and contain nicotine. The FDA does not classify them as smokeless tobacco products since they do not include a tobacco leaf. However, they are still very harmful to youth.
Oral nicotine products can contain as much as 6 milligrams of nicotine per pouch.
Quitting Resources
- Commit to Quit
- VapeFreeCT
- CT Quitline: 1-800-QUIT-NOW
- For teens and young adults, text VapeFreeCT to 88709
- More CT resources here.
The Truth Initiative has launched This Is Quitting, an anonymous text service designed to help young people quit vaping.
Text DITCHVAPE to 88709 to start today.
The American Lung Association also has various programs to assist and support quitting nicotine and tobacco products.
