Vaping refers to the act of inhaling and exhaling aerosol, harmful particles suspended in a heated gas produced by an electronic device. Vaping is a delivery method, not a substance. The same device that delivers nicotine can also be used to inhale cannabis, other chemicals, or substances marketed as wellness or health products.

That's an important distinction that often gets lost: vaping is not tied to one substance.The wellness and supplement industry has moved into this space, marketing vaping devices that claim to deliver vitamins, melatonin, essential oils, and herbal compounds. But regardless of what's being marketed, the act of heating any substance and inhaling it into the lungs carries real risks because heat changes chemistry.

Understanding vaping means understanding the device, what goes into it, and what actually enters your body when you inhale. Whether you're a teen curious about what vaping really is, or a parent trying to understand what your child might be exposed to, this page breaks it down clearly.

What is Vaping?

The device

E-cigarettes, also called vapes, vape pens, e-pens, or e-cigs, are electronic devices designed to heat a liquid into aerosol. They typically include:

  • A battery (which can malfunction and cause fires or explosions)
  • A cartridge, pod, or tank pre-filled or refillable with liquid
  • A heating element (coil) that aerosolizes the liquid

When the coil heats up, tiny pieces of metal — including nickel and tin — can break off and become part of the aerosol that is inhaled into the lungs.

What can be vaped?

Vaping devices can be used to inhale a wide range of substances:

  • Nicotine: the most common substance vaped; found in e-cigarettes and vape products marketed for adults and teens.
  • Cannabis / THC: cannabis vaping products are increasingly popular and come in youth-friendly designs and flavors.
  • CBD and wellness products: Some products are marketed as non-psychoactive or therapeutic, but many are not regulated and can still carry health risks
  • "Health" vaping products: a growing category of devices marketed to deliver vitamins (like B12), melatonin, essential oils, herbal extracts, and other supplements. Companies market these as safe, natural, or even beneficial — but the science does not support these claims.
  • Nicotine salts (nic salts): Many vaping products use nicotine salts, a form of nicotine that is smoother on the throat and absorbs into the body much more rapidly than standard nicotine. This means the impact on the brain is faster and more intense, increasing addiction potential, even at high concentrations.
  • Other chemicals: flavoring compounds, vitamin additives, and other substances that are often inadequately studied for inhalation safety

The device doesn't make the substance safe. What matters is what you're inhaling, and how often.

What heat does to what you inhale

This is one of the most important, and least talked about, facts about vaping: heating a substance changes its chemistry. What you put into a device is not the same as what comes out.

When any liquid is heated to create an aerosol, chemical reactions occur. Compounds that may be harmless in their original form can transform into entirely new and harmful substances when exposed to high temperatures.

A well-known example: propylene glycol, a common e-liquid ingredient, breaks down under heat into formaldehyde gas, a known carcinogen. This same process happens with other compounds, including flavoring chemicals, oils, and herbal extracts used in "wellness" vaping products.

What this means in plain terms:

  • Inhaling a vitamin doesn't work the way taking a vitamin does. The lungs are not designed to process supplements, they are designed to exchange oxygen.
  • Essential oils that are safe to smell or apply to skin can become irritants or toxic compounds when heated and inhaled directly into lung tissue.
  • Flavoring chemicals — even those generally recognized as safe for eating — have been linked to serious lung disease when inhaled, because inhalation bypasses the protections of the digestive system entirely.
  • The heating coil itself sheds microscopic particles of nickel, tin, and lead into the aerosol, regardless of what substance is in the device.

No substance becomes safer because it's delivered through a vape. Heat changes chemistry, and your lungs pay the price.

What's really in the aerosol?

E-cigarette aerosol is not water vapor. The liquid inside a vaping device contains more than 100 compounds. When heated and turned into aerosol, additional compounds are created. What you, your friends, and your pets breathe in can include:

  • Acrolein — a weed killer
  • Benzene — found in car exhaust
  • Formaldehyde — used to preserve dead bodies; a known carcinogen
  • Nickel, tin, and lead — heavy metals that break off the heating coil
  • Nicotine — highly addictive; present in 99.6% of e-cigarette products
  • Propylene glycol — used in antifreeze
  • Volatile organic compounds — found in rat poison, paint thinner, and cleaning products
  • Ultrafine particles — microscopic particles that travel deep into the lungs, causing scarring and inflammation

What you can do

  • Educate yourself

    Learn what's in vaping devices and aerosols, and what substances can be delivered through them.

  • Talk about it

    Have honest conversations with people you trust.

    Family Conversation Guide

  • Say no

    Knowing how to navigate peer pressure is a real skill. Practice it.

  • Seek help

    If you or someone you know wants to stop vaping, support is available.

Why It Matters

Vaping might look trendy or feel harmless, but the reality is stark: these devices pose significant risks to your health. From life-threatening lung damage to long-term addiction, vaping carries consequences that are too big to ignore.

  • Brain Impact

    The adolescent brain is still developing, particularly areas response for memory, emotions, attention, and impulse control.

    • Vaping alters brain development. Nicotine changes how synapses form in the brain, potentially affecting learning, mood and self-control.

    • Teens who vape are more likely to become addicted to nicotine and may transition to smoking traditional cigarettes later in life.

    • Nicotine use can worsen anxiety, depression and mood swings.

  • Physical Health Impact

    For teens, whose bodies are still growing and developing, vaping can be especially harmful. Vaping introduces risks that can undermine well-being in the short and long term.

    • Nicotine raises heart rate and blood pressure, increasing the risk of cardiovascular problems over time.

    • Nicotine causes blood vessels to narrow, which decreases blood flow. Less blood flow means less oxygen to the brain and other organs essential for survival.

    • While the long-term health impacts remain unclear, early evidence points to serious risks.

    • Vaping can cause lung inflammation and irritation, even in otherwise healthy individuals. This may lead to:

      • E-cigarette-or-vaping-use-associated lung injury (EVALI), a serious inflammatory lung condition.

      • Lung diseases, which may cause chronic coughing, shortness of breath, and severe lung damage due to scarring in the airways.

  • Mental Health Impact

    The stress of nicotine addiction and the disruption it causes in brain chemistry can have lasting effects on teens' emotional well-being.

    • Vaping can negatively impact impulse control in teens and young adults. These effects include an increased risk of mood disorders, impaired memory and difficulty regulating emotions.

    • The developing brain is particularly vulnerable to the chemicals in e-cigarettes. Use may lead to permanent damage in areas responsible for critical thinking, emotion regulation, and memory retention.

  • Social Impact

    Vaping affects more than just physical and mental health—it can also impact a teen's relationships, academic performance, and social life. What starts as a social activity can quickly lead to challenges that ripple through many aspects of life.

    • Teens who vape may struggle with focus, memory and motivation, impacting school performance.

    • Vaping is often a social activity, but peer pressure to participate can lead to risky behaviors.

    • Parents and caregivers may struggle to communicate effectively with teens who vape, causing friction at home.

  • Financial Impact

    Vaping costs can add up quickly. For teens with limited incomes, spending money on vaping products often comes at the expense of other opportunities and necessities.

    • Between devices, replacement coils, and e-liquid cartridges/pods, the average uses can spend hundreds to thousands of dollars per year.

    • Pods, cartridges, and disposable devices are expensive, especially for teens with limited income.

    • Underage possession or use of vaping products can result in fines, school disciplinary actions or other penalties.

    • Money spent on vaping could be used for education, hobbies, or savings—investments in a teen's future.

  • Environmental Impact

    Vaping also contributes to environmental harm. From electronic waste to chemical pollution, vaping products leave a damaging footprint.

    • Discarded vaping devices, pods and cartridges add to growing electronic waste problems.

    • E-liquid spills and improperly disposed of devices can leak harmful chemicals into the environment.

    • Many vaping products contain plastics and metals that do not break down naturally, contributing to pollution.

  • Extracurriculars & Athletics Impact

    For teens involved in sports, theater, or other extracurricular activities, vaping can directly undermine performance and commitment.

    • Nicotine affects lung capacity, making it harder for teens to perform at their best.

    • Vaping impairs the body's ability to heal and recover from injuries or illnesses.

    • Fatigue and health issues caused by vaping can lead to missed practices, games, or auditions.

  • Other surprising impacts of vaping

    • Many e-cigarette devices come with the risk of malfunction. This can lead to fires or explosions that can cause serious injuries, including burns and facial trauma.

    • Accidental exposure to e-liquid—either by swallowing or through skin absorption—can result in life-threatening consequences, especially for young children or pets who encounter improperly stored vapes.

    • Vape aerosol contains harmful chemicals like nicotine, formaldehyde, and Volatile Compounds posing risks to bystanders especially those with respiratory conditions.

Vaping devices have become harder to identify and easier for teens to hide. Staying informed about what vaping devices look like, what substances they can deliver, and how to open up non-judgmental conversations with your teen is one of the most effective things a caregiver can do. Visit the Confident Caregiver Page for tools and resources.

This project is possible, fully or in part, as a result of grant funding recommended by the Opioid Epidemic Response Advisory Council (OERAC) and the Minnesota Department of Human Services. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the official policies the Minnesota Department of Human services; nor mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the state of Minnesota.