How does Nicotine affect Teenagers and their Mental Mindset/Health?

What is Nicotine?

Nicotine is a item used in many vapes (ex. Juul, Puff Bars.) It is an alkaloid inside of the Coca Plant.
You might have heard of Juul once you’re in a higher grade in school. Juul’s are Vapes that many teenagers use.

Scientists have figured out that the amount of teenagers who underage vape has decreased by a lot it did years ago, which is a good sign. However, just because the amount of teenagers who vape has decreased, it does not mean there are other things to concern over.

How Addictions like these happen!

How do addictions like these happen? Our brains are very interesting and full to blame. Whenever our heart feels a feeling, our brain releases a natural chemical. It is call Dopamine. Dopamine keeps this feeling or activity so you can remember to do it again since you feel happy because of it.
Vapes and Nicotines and Weeds and Juul’s etc. take advantage of that chemical in our brain. Whenever they/we inhale nicotine, our brain sucks in that nicotine and triggers a surge of Dopamine. Overtime, the Brain realizes how different this type of development is, and start to want it more and more, and this is how the Addiction Disorder starts.

How does Addictions affect our Mental Health?

We all know that thing’s like these are very hard to give up. However, it’s not just lungs that are collapsing while during this type of addiction. It starts to withdraw different symptoms. Such as depression, anxiety, sleep problems, cravings once they decide to put down their vape. This gives themselves an urge to pick it up and do it again. However, even if vaping seems like the right way to solve things when feeling down or upset, eventually symptoms like those turn up again. Things that they used to enjoy and have fun with, no longer seem interesting. Moods change, but with vapes, they switch unusually quick. These all affect the learning part of our brain.

How can they stop?

Unfortunately, we cannot force anyone to quit vaping, and it is very hard for the person themself to throw away the vape and never pick one up again. But, these are teenagers. Their minds are still growing, and once they get older and the addiction stays or gets worse is when real problems happen.
That’s a sign for you to enjoy life. Have a good time, and try to find better hobbies before thinking of picking up a vape and getting used to it, it’s not worth your energy and your passion.

parts researched from: The New York Times magazine.