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to make an informed decision, you need the facts.

Some people believe that vaping is a harmless alternative to smoking cigarettes, but that’s not true. Consider this:

Vaping is believed to be “safer” than smoking cigarettes. However, there are many health risks, including some that are very serious, caused by vaping.

“Safer” does not mean “safe.”

Scientists are still studying the long-term health effects and harmful doses of e-juice contents when they are heated and turned into an aerosol.

Share this campaign with the teens you care about. CLICK HERE for free educational materials.

Mario's Grand Prize winning entry in our What's So Bad About Vaping? Meme Contest placed first in the Most Creative category and received the most votes on Facebook and Instagram.

Grand Prize Winner: Mario Rodriguez, age 14, Culver City, CA.

Congratulations to our other category winners! (Left) Most Informative: Joey Yamada, age 11, Colorado, (right) Funniest: Logan Lipscomb, age 16, California

Scroll down to learn What's So Bad About Vaping, or click here to see more meme contest submissions.

E-cigarettes (also called vape pens, e-cigs, tank systems, and mods) were created as a tool to help smokers quit cigarettes. They were never intended for long-term use.

This electronic nicotine delivery system turns an e-liquid or “vape juice” into an aerosol vapor that is inhaled.

A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that 99% of vapes contain nicotine.

Some vape labels do not disclose that they contain nicotine while others that are marketed as nicotine-free still contain nicotine.

The US Surgeon General has determined that nicotine is as addictive as heroin.

Not only is nicotine highly addictive, but the impact it has on your developing brain affects impulse control and makes you more likely to become addicted to other drugs in the future.

Nicotine is also harmful to the parts of the brain that control mood, learning, and attention.

The negative effects of nicotine on gums are well known.

It restricts blood flow and affects your mouth’s natural ability to fight infection and replenish connective tissue, leading to a higher risk of gum disease and tooth loss.

Gum disease can contribute to other serious diseases including heart disease, diabetes, and even some cancers.

Vaping can make your skin look terrible!

  • Vapes contain toxins including cadmium, nickel, lead and formaldehyde that damage the skin and make it more prone to infections and breakouts.
  • Vaping makes skin dry and flaky, causing itchy patches and rashes.
  • The nicotine in vapes breaks down collagen so just like smokers, vapers often develop lines around the mouth, saggy skin and early wrinkles.
  • The toxins in vapes can make acne, psoriasis and rosacea worse.

vaping can cause lung injury.

  • The nicotine in vapes also increases the risk of stroke, which can lead to life-long disability or death.
  • Nicotine affects sleep, which is essential for developing teens.
  • Nicotine increases blood pressure which is bad for the heart.

here are some warning signs that you may be addicted to vaping or nicotine:

  • Feeling the need to vape as soon as you wake up or during class
  • Feeling anxious or irritable when you can’t vape
  • Trouble concentrating or sleeping
  • Still vaping–even when you no longer want to
  • Reaching for your vape without thinking about it
  • Going out of your way to get e-cigarettes
  • Thoughts are interrupted by a craving to vape throughout the day

Talk to your doctor or dentist

Call 800-QUIT-NOW

Visit teen.smokefree.gov for free resources that work!

e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov

scholastic.com/youthvapingrisks

opensecrets.org/news/issues/e-cigarettes

cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes

thetruth.com/article/safer-safe

catch.org/program/vaping-prevention

TEENS HAVE BEGUN VAPING AT AN ALARMING RATE.

Since kids who try vaping are more likely to begin smoking cigarettes, we could be facing a major health crisis!

Find free educational materials for students and parents (including tips on how to talk to your teen about vaping,) and a social media kit to help you share the dangers of vaping with your friends on our campaign resources page:

PROVIDED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH:

Meme contest entries

Here are more meme contest entries that helped us show what's so bad about vaping in a creative, informative, or funny way:

thank you to everyone who entered!

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