Vaping and mental health fact sheet for young people

Life can be intense and leave you feeling stressed and anxious. There are many proven ways to maintain your mental health without needing to vape. If you are vaping and want to quit, there’s great support available.

Understanding vaping, nicotine and mental health

It is totally normal to feel stressed, anxious, or down sometimes. But it is important to know how to deal with those feelings without turning to vaping. Advertising and social media may make vaping seem like a great way to relax, but it’s not true. In fact, it can speed up your heart rate, which can make you feel even more stressed out. Nicotine hits your brain super-fast, making you feel good for a bit. But when it wears off, you feel agitated and just want more. Nicotine dependence is real, and when you try to quit, it can leave you feeling anxious or depressed.

That craving can mess with your head and make you want to vape even more. It can be a tough temporary cycle to break but your body will re-learn how to function without nicotine.

The health risks of vaping include damage to your skin, teeth and gums, lungs, and heart and irreversible damage to your brain.

The brain continues to develop until around 25 years old. Regular use of vapes containing nicotine as a young person can rewire the way the brain works.

It can affect your memory, learning, attention and ability to control your actions.

Plus, vaping can make you feel more stressed, not less. Don’t fall for the idea that it’s an easy way to handle stress – it’s not worth it.

Nicotine withdrawal can lead to irritability, trouble sleeping, changes in appetite, and difficulty concentrating.

Remember, quitting breaks the cycle and can make you feel better physically and mentally. The best way to quit is to have a plan. For quitting support, visit your GP or contact Quitline at 13 QUIT (13 7848) or visit quit.org.au.

For 24/7 mental health support, contact the Kids Helpline (ages 5-25) on 1800 55 1800