You have plans, passions, and a future worth protecting. Nicotine doesn’t get to decide what comes next.
What could nicotine cost you?
Vaping and nicotine don’t just hurt your lungs. They can affect your brain, mood, energy, sleep, focus, heart, and overall health. Some effects aren’t obvious right away, but nicotine can change how your body and mind function over time. Explore the sections below to see how vaping can affect your life in ways you might not expect.
What matters to you?
Sports
Nicotine can get in the way of your game.
It can affect the focus, stamina, energy, and control you need to train hard, recover well, and show up ready for your team.
Grades
Nicotine can make it harder to stay focused.
It can affect attention, learning, mood, and impulse control, which all matter when you need to study, remember information, and make smart choices at school.
Friends & Family
Nicotine can expose family and friends to second hand smoke.
Nicotine use can affect your friends and family by exposing them to harmful chemicals through secondhand aerosol, influencing others to start vaping, and causing stress or worry for the people who care about you. Your choices can have an impact on those around you, too.
Money
It adds up quickly: Buying vapes, pods, or nicotine products regularly can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year.
Regularly buying vapes, pods, e-liquids, or other nicotine products can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year. That money could instead be saved or spent on things you enjoy, like clothes, hobbies, entertainment, travel, or a car.
Mental Health
Nicotine can increase stress and anxiety over time, make it harder to focus without it, and lead to irritability or mood changes when the effects wear off.
While nicotine may provide a brief feeling of relaxation, it can actually increase stress and anxiety over time. It can also make it harder to concentrate without nicotine, disrupt your mood, and lead to cravings, irritability, and difficulty managing emotions as dependence develops.
Environment
Vapes are toxic waste that is harmful to the environment and nearly impossible to recycle.
Disposable vapes are considered toxic waste and contain batteries, plastics, and leftover nicotine that can contaminate the environment. When tossed in the trash or littered, they can leak toxic chemicals into the environment, contribute to plastic pollution, and pose risks to wildlife and ecosystems.
Art & Creativity
Nicotine cravings can distract your mind, making it harder to stay inspired, focused, and creative.
While some people think nicotine helps them focus, dependence can actually interrupt creative thinking by making your brain focus on cravings instead of ideas. Over time, it can also affect mood, concentration, and motivation—all of which play a role in creativity.
Body & Appearance
Nicotine can damage your skin, teeth, breath, and overall health, making it harder for your body to look and feel its best.
Nicotine raises your heart rate and blood pressure, reduces blood flow, and makes it harder for your body to heal. Over time, it can lead to dull or prematurely aging skin, stained teeth, bad breath, and reduced athletic performance, affecting both how you feel and how you look.
Freedom & Independence
Nicotine cravings can take control of your time, choices, and daily routine.
Nicotine dependence can make you feel like you need to vape to get through the day. Cravings can control when and where you go, how you spend your money, and how you feel, making it harder to make choices independently.
Leadership & Reputation
Your choices can influence how others see you and the example you set for those around you.
Nicotine dependence can influence how others see you and may make it harder to set a positive example. Your choices can impact your credibility, leadership, and the influence you have on friends, teammates, classmates, or younger peers.
Take the Next Step
Be the friend who leads the way. Become a TNSTRONG Ambassador or explore resources that help you make informed choices and influence others for the better.