Let’s be honest, being a teen isn’t always easy. When life gets stressful, it’s important to stay true to you and find healthy ways to unwind that don’t involve vaping. Choose You is a campaign encouraging teens to focus on the things that matter most and avoid vapes. Informed by teens across Washington State, Choose You breaks down how the nicotine in vapes impacts your mental and physical health, offers healthy ways to cope with stress, and provides resources that are proven to help teens quit vapes.

Choose The Facts
Addiction & Mental Health  

Tobacco companies market vapes as a de-stressor and want you to think vaping is a healthy alternative to smoking, but they’re not telling the truth. Nicotine is a highly addictive drug—and one JUUL pod has as much nicotine as a pack of 20 cigarettes. Nicotine withdrawal can cause mood swings, problems sleeping, and feelings of anxiety and depression. In fact, research shows those who vape are 2x as likely to be diagnosed with depression than those who don’t.

Commercial Tobacco vs. Traditional Tobacco

When it comes to commercial tobacco and traditional tobacco, it’s important to know the difference. Traditional tobacco has been used for spiritual and medicinal purposes by Indigenous peoples for centuries and continues to be used today. The tobacco plant is considered a sacred gift by many Native American communities. Commercial tobacco is mass-produced by big tobacco companies for profit. They add harmful chemicals and using can cause health issues or death.

The Cost of Vapes

Vapes aren’t cheap. And buying pods over and over can stop you from affording things you’d rather spend money on, like your hobbies, clothes, and entertainment. Note: In Washington State, it’s illegal for anyone under 21 to purchase vaping or commercial tobacco products.

Choose What Matters

These are just a few of many things to keep in mind when it comes to nicotine and vaping. At the end the day, remember to choose what matters and Choose You. Get more facts, tips, and resources at ChooseYouWA.org.

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