What is nicotine?
Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical compound found in the tobacco plant. It is most commonly consumed through products such as cigarettes, e-cigarettes/vapes, cigars, chewing tobacco, and nicotine pouches. Nicotine stimulates the central nervous system, creating temporary feelings of alertness and relaxation, but it also alters brain development when used during adolescence. Because the adolescent brain is still developing until around age 25, nicotine use during this time can increase the risk of addiction, impact attention and learning, and prime the brain for future substance use. While nicotine products are legal for adults 21 and over in Illinois, they pose significant health risks, particularly for youth and young adults.
Short-term effects of nicotine use
A sense of euphoria or relaxation
Increased heart rate and blood pressure
Reduced appetite
Enhanced alertness and concentration
Headaches
Nausea
Dizziness
Potential health consequences of nicotine use
Cancer
While nicotine itself isn’t classified as a carcinogen, research shows it can play a major role in how cancer develops and spreads. Nicotine affects the body’s cells in several ways that can increase cancer risk: it encourages cells to grow and divide more quickly, prevents damaged cells from dying off, and helps tumors form new blood vessels to supply themselves with nutrients.
In addition, nicotine and related chemicals found in tobacco products can activate pathways in the body that promote the growth and spread of cancer cells, particularly in the lungs. Studies have also linked nicotine exposure to cancers of the pancreas, colon, and stomach.
Source: CDC
Cardiovascular disease
Nicotine can have serious effects on the heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk for heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular problems. It raises blood pressure, speeds up the heart rate, and puts extra strain on the heart over time.
Nicotine also damages the lining of blood vessels and contributes to the buildup of fatty plaques, a process known as atherosclerosis. These plaques can narrow or block blood flow, leading to heart attacks or strokes. In addition, nicotine triggers inflammation and makes blood more likely to clot, both of which further raise the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Respiratory disease
Nicotine and tobacco use can increase the risk for diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma. These conditions make it harder to breathe, can cause long-term lung damage, and in severe cases may lead to respiratory failure. Nicotine contributes to lung disease by triggering inflammation and promoting the overgrowth of airway muscle and tissue, which narrows airways and reduces airflow. It also interferes with the body’s ability to repair lung tissue and increases mucus production, making breathing more difficult. Over time, these changes can cause lasting lung damage and raise the risk for lung cancer. Exposure to nicotine before birth has also been shown to affect lung development in infants, increasing their risk of asthma and other breathing problems later in life.
Reproductive disease
Nicotine exposure before and during pregnancy can negatively affect reproductive health and fetal development, increasing risks of infertility, preterm birth, and infant death. Research shows that nicotine, not just other harmful substances in tobacco, contributes to these outcomes by affecting placental function and fetal growth. Women who smoke or use nicotine products such as snus during pregnancy are more likely to deliver prematurely, while quitting before prenatal care can reduce this risk. Nicotine can also accumulate in the placenta, amniotic fluid, and breast milk, interfering with normal cardiorespiratory development in infants. These effects may disrupt breathing and heart rate regulation, helping explain the strong link between maternal nicotine exposure and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Effects of nicotine on the brain
Nicotine affects the brain by altering how nerve cells communicate, leading to changes in mood, attention, and behavior. When nicotine enters the bloodstream, it quickly reaches the brain and binds to nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, triggering the release of neurotransmitters like dopamine, which creates feelings of pleasure and reward. Over time, repeated nicotine exposure changes the brain’s chemistry—making it dependent on nicotine to feel normal and reinforcing addiction. Nicotine can also affect brain areas involved in learning, memory, and impulse control, which are still developing in adolescents and young adults. As a result, early exposure to nicotine can lead to long-term changes in brain structure and function, increasing vulnerability to addiction and other mental health challenges.
Source: Addiction Policy Forum.
Harmful chemicals in e-cigarettes/vapes
Heavy Metals
E-cigarette aerosols can contain toxic metals such as lead, nickel, cadmium, and tin. These metals often come from parts of the device, like the heating coil, wires, and joints, and can leach into the e-liquid during use. Exposure to heavy metals is linked to serious health risks, including lung disease, cardiovascular problems, and neurological damage.
Carcinogens
Research shows that e-cigarette aerosols contain formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and benzene, many of the same toxic substances found in tobacco smoke. These carcinogens are produced when e-liquids are heated at high temperatures. Long-term exposure to these chemicals can increase the risk of cancer and other serious health problems.
Diacetyl
Diacetyl is a flavoring chemical often used to create sweet flavors in e-cigarettes. This chemical has been linked to serious respiratory illness, including bronchiolitis obliterans, also known as “popcorn lung.” A study of over 50 types of flavored e-cigarettes found that diacetyl was present in more than 75% of flavored e-cigarettes and refill liquids.
Glycerin
E-cigarettes use propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin as base ingredients to create vapor. These substances help produce the visible aerosol and carry flavor. Long-term inhalation of propylene glycol and glycerin may cause mouth and throat dryness and can produce harmful chemicals when heated, posing potential health risks.
Nicotine pouches
Nicotine pouches are small microfiber pouches that contain nicotine powder. When the pouch is placed between the lip and the gum, nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream through the mouth. Like e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches can come in a variety of flavors, such as mint, citrus, coffee, or cinnamon. In 2022, 2.9% of U.S. adults reported ever using nicotine pouches, and 0.4% reported current use.
While nicotine pouches have been marketed as a smokeless replacement for cigarettes or other nicotine products, they have not been approved by the FDA as a smoking cessation product. Nicotine pouches may contain up to 12 mg of nicotine, which is equivalent to about 8 cigarettes.
Some nicotine pouch brands have been targeting athletes, promoting that these products can “enhance performance” and “boost focus” without the negative effects that cigarettes and vapes have on the lungs and cardiovascular system. While nicotine is a stimulant that can temporarily raise alertness, it also increases blood pressure and heart rate, and it also may impair endurance and recovery in the long term. Such marketing tactics are especially concerning because they can normalize nicotine use in sports settings and appeal to young athletes seeking a competitive edge. Although the long-term effects of nicotine pouches have not yet been thoroughly studied, all nicotine products carry the potential for addiction and adverse health effects.
Quitting Nicotine
When quitting nicotine, you may feel a collection of physical, mental, and emotional symptoms known as nicotine withdrawal. Nicotine withdrawal can be a painful and uncomfortable experience, but the body begins to heal quickly. Withdrawal symptoms typically peak around day 2-3 of quitting and begin to subside about 3-4 weeks after quitting. Some common withdrawal symptoms include:
Cravings or urges to use nicotine
Feeling frustrated, irritable or angry
Feeling sad or depressed
Feeling anxious or jumpy
Trouble concentrating
Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
Increased appetite, which may result in weight gain
How your body benefits from quitting nicotine: A timeline
Teen quitting resources
Quit the Hit is a cessation support group that educates young people about how to quit vaping through group chats on Instagram. Created in partnership with Hopelab and UCSF’s Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, Quit the Hit provides 5 weeks of online quit support in groups of 10-15 participants with active moderation by a cessation coach.
The EX Program is a digital tobacco cessation platform developed by Truth Initiative. Designed for both youth and adults, the EX Program provides evidence-based tools, personalized quit plans, text and email support, and access to an online community of peers and coaches. Through interactive resources and expert guidance, the program helps participants build the skills and confidence needed to quit.
My Life, My Quit is a free and confidential quit program designed specifically for teens who want to quit vaping. Developed by the tobacco cessation experts at National Jewish Health, the program offers one-on-one text, chat, or phone coaching with trained quit specialists. Teens receive personalized support, helpful tips, and encouragement to make quitting easier and more achievable.