E-Cigarettes & Vaping Facts

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The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that e-cigarettes are not safe for youth, young adults, pregnant women, or adults who do not currently use tobacco products.

E-Cigarettes are battery operated devices that heat a liquid, almost always containing nicotine, into an aerosol that the user inhales into their lungs, simulating smoking.

Facts about E-Cigarettes and Vaping:

  • E-Cigarettes are also known as: ENDS (Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems), Electronic Vapor Products, Electronic Smoking Devices, Vaporizers, Vape Pens, E-hookahs, E-Cigars, Tank Systems, or Mods.
  • The vast majority of electronic products sold contain nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive, and can cause harm to adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s.
  • The e-cigarette aerosol that users breathe from the device and exhale can contain harmful and potentially harmful substances, including nicotine, volatile organic compounds, cancer causing chemicals, and heavy metals.
  • Youth who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke regular cigarettes in the future.
  • E-cigarette use among both youth and young adults has increased considerably in recent years. In 2019, half of Maine High School students reported having ever used an electronic vapor product. National data from 2018 demonstrated a 78% increase in recent use of e-cigarette devices by high school students.
  • E-cigarette use during pregnancy is not safe. Nicotine can damage a baby’s developing brain and lungs.
  • For adults seeking to quit tobacco, there is a limited evidence base which indicates that e-cigarettes may have some potential to act as a cessation tool in some populations for whom either first-line FDA medications are not effective or those who may only be looking to transition away from combustible products.