Respect Your Brain for Youth Week

Youth Week is being held from 20 to 30 April 2023. The theme for this year is Connect. Participate. Celebrate.

It's a chance for young people to share ideas and start conversations about issues relevant to their lives, and is a great opportunity to talk about vaping. Did you know that vapes contain nicotine making them addictive? That vapes can leave young people at increased risk of depression and anxiety? Or that young people who vape are three times as likely to take up smoking cigarettes?

Do you know what you're vaping? Here are some facts from NSW Health:

• Many vapes contain nicotine making them addictive
• Vapes can contain the same harmful chemicals found in cleaning products, nail polish remover, weed killer and bug spray
• Vapes can leave young people at increased risk of depression and anxiety
• The nicotine in 1 vape can = 50 cigarettes. Depending on the size of the vape and nicotine strength, it can be much higher
• Young people who vape are 3 times as likely to take up smoking cigarettes
• Vape aerosol is not water vapour
• Vaping has been linked to lung disease
• Vapes can cause long-lasting damaging effects on the brain and physical development.

Respect Your Brain

Adolescence and emerging adulthood are periods of significant brain growth and development. This can affect the way the adolescent brain reacts to using drugs, in some cases increasing the risk of damage. Find out how alcohol, cannabis, MDMA, alcohol with antidepressants, and vaping can affect a developing brain on Your Room's Respect Your Brain page.

Nicotine is incredibly addictive. Using nicotine-containing vapes means you may develop nicotine dependence. Exposing young brains to the nicotine commonly found in vapes can wire the brain to be more addicted into adulthood. Other potential impacts include depression, anxiety and substance abuse disorders.

Watch the Vaping - Respect Your Brain video to learn more.

For more information on alcohol and other drugs, see Drug Info's youth page.