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Empowering through knowledge
Many people who start vaping or using e-cigarettes believe it is a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes. But the reality is that vaping can lead to nicotine dependency, harm brain development, or cause lung damage and other health issues, especially among youth.
We hope to empower Alaska Native youth, families, and communities through traditional wisdom, prevention knowledge, and shared responsibility, so they can make informed decisions about vaping. Explore resources and information for Alaska Native youth, parents and trusted adults.
Trusted Adults: Strong Roots, Strong Future, Keeping Our Youth Vape-Free
Adolescent brains are extremely vulnerable to nicotine because brains are not fully developed until age 25. Nicotine disrupts attention, learning, memory, and impulse control, potentially lowering academic performance.
One resource youth have always relied upon in Alaska Native communities are Elders and trusted adults. Adults should model healthy behaviors for the youth in their life by staying tobacco free and creating a supportive environment to talk about the dangers of vaping. Get tips for talking to youth about vaping and learn the signs of use here.
Start the Conversation – A Guide for Trusted Adults. How to talk to youth about vaping:
Why it matters
- 1 in 5 teens who try vaping become daily users due to nicotine’s addictive properties (Truth Initiative, 2023).
- Many youth believe vaping is “harmless water vapor,” but aerosols contain formaldehyde, heavy metals, and ultrafine particles (CDC, 2023).
- Open, non-judgmental conversations can cut the chance that someone will start vaping in half (Pediatrics, 2022).
Conversation Starters
Keep questions open-ended and empathetic:
- “What have you heard about vaping at school?”
- “Some vapes contain as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes. Have you heard that?” (FDA, 2023)
- “I care about you and your health. Can we talk about how vaping might affect you?”
Key Messages to Share
- Vaping isn’t safe, even if your friends and other people you know claim it is. “Nicotine-free” vapes still contain harmful chemicals (American Lung Association, 2023).
- Nicotine harms brain development, impacting memory, focus, and mental health (Surgeon General, 2022).
- Social pressure to vape may be real, but preparing to say “no” will make it easier to do so. Practice what you’ll say if offered the chance to vape before you’re in a difficult situation. Role-play responses like: “No thanks, I’m good,” or “I don’t like how it makes me feel.”
If They're Already Vaping
- Stay calm. Ask: “What made you want to try it?”Avoid shaming.
- Help them quit with our Resources to Quit section below.
For Teens: Sacred Breath, Clear Mind – Understanding Vaping's Harm
Teenage and high school years can be difficult. Fitting in isn’t always easy, and if friends are vaping, it can be hard to resist social pressure. Flavors and targeted marketing tactics make vaping seem harmless, but there is no such thing as safe tobacco.
Arm yourself with the tools you need to say no, and support friends in staying vape free:
Understand the dangers of vaping
- The aerosol from vapes is not harmless water vapor. It contains a mix of potentially harmful chemicals that are not safe to breathe.
- Most e-cigarettes also contain nicotine. Nicotine is very addictive and can harm brain development,
Practice how to say “no” with someone you trust
- Act out saying “no” with someone you trust beforehand. This practice will make it easier say “no” in social situations.
- You and your friends have plenty of things in common besides vaping. It can be helpful to remind yourself of what they are and why you don’t need to vape.
Avoid situations where you could be tempted
- If your friends vape and you choose not to, it could change some of your relationships –some good, some bad. But being ready for those changes can help.
- Vaping doesn’t define you. Your friends enjoy being with you because of who you are, not because you vape.
Surround yourself with friends who share your values
- You might think social vaping is common, but the fact is 9 out of 10 high schoolers don’t smoke.
- Most high schoolers say they’d rather date a nonsmoker.
Resources to Quit: Healing Your Breath, Honoring Your Journey
Quitting vaping has immediate and long-term benefits to your health. Within 20 minutes of quitting, bodily function starts to improve. Many have found quitting has helped with depression, anxiety and overall mood. It can be hard to quit alone, there are resources available to help.
Health benefits of quitting
- 48 hours: Nicotine leaves the body, increasing the ability to taste and smell.
- 72 hours: Breathing becomes significantly easier as lung function begins the recovery process.
- 2-4 weeks: Anxiety, depression, and irritability lessen as nicotine withdrawal ends.
- 1 month: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease drastically.
- Ongoing: Athletic and performance boost
- Save money
- More freedom and time for other activities
Resources to quit
- Talk to your doctor about treatment options.
- Free tobacco cessation services are available to ANTHC and Alaska Native Medical Center patients and employees. For more information or to enroll, please call 907-729-4343.
- Free services are available to patients of Tribal health organizations throughout the state. Regional Tobacco Prevention Programs include:
- Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) 907-729-4343
- Aleutian Pribilof Islands Association (APIA) 907-222-4237
- Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation (BBAHC) 800-478-5201 ext. 6547
- Kodiak Area Native Association (KANA) 907-486-7396
- Maniilaq Association 800-431-3321
- Norton Sound Health Corporation (NSHC) 907-443-4583
- Southcentral Foundation (SCF) 907-729-2689
- Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC) 888-966-8875
- Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation (YKHC) 800-478-3321
- Visit teen.smokefree.gov and teen.smokefree.gov/quit-vaping
- Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or text “READY” to 34191 for a quit kit with information about quitting smoking, vaping or chewing.
- Text VAPEFREE to 873373
- For families helping young people: Text QUIT to 202-899-7550
- With EX Program, you get free, 24/7 support through daily text messages full of tips and advice, a resource library with expert guidance, and access to an active community of quitters.
- American Academy of Pediatrics E-cigarettes and Vaping toolkit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Vaping
All tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, pose health risks and are particularly harmful to youth. Learn more about what vaping is and how you can quit.
Q: What's really in a vape?
A: E-cigarette aerosols typically contain:
- Nicotine (extremely addictive)
- Propylene glycol (a lung irritant)
- Flavoring chemicals (some linked to “popcorn lung”)
- Heavy metals (e.g., lead, nickel) from heating coils
- THC or vitamin E acetate (associated with EVALI lung injuries)
- Sources: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/about-e-cigarettes.html
Q: Is vaping safer than smoking?
A: No. While vaping exposes users to fewer known carcinogens than cigarettes, it is not safe. Research shows vaping:
- Damages lung tissue and increases asthma risk
- Harms heart health (nicotine raises blood pressure)
- Impairs brain development in teens
- Long-term effects are still being studied.
Sources: https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/e-cigarettes-vaping
Q: Can you get addicted to vaping?
A: Yes. Nicotine is as addictive as heroin or cocaine, rewiring the brain’s reward system. Studies show:
- 1 in 4 teens who try vaping become daily users.
- Withdrawal symptoms (irritability, cravings) make quitting hard.
- Source: https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/tobacco/index.html
Q: How can I quit vaping?
A: You’re not alone!
- Lean on trusted adults, they want to help.
- Talk to a doctor or counselor about nicotine replacement therapy (e.g., patches, gum).
- See our Resources to Quit section for more info, programs and organizations who can help you quit.
- Sources: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/campaign/tips/quit-smoking/index.html
