My answer

Teen vape use can be narrowed down to one chemical: nicotine. Nicotine is considered one of the most addictive chemicals known to man.

According to the Council on Chemical Abuse, a website geared toward compiling research and data on all types of addiction, “Research has shown that nicotine is just as addictive as heroin. The progression of addiction is the same for nicotine as it would be for heroin, or cocaine, or alcohol.”

The human brain does not fully develop until the age of 25, and the use of addictive chemicals, such as nicotine, can have an extreme effect of the minds of teens.

A similar epidemic occurred in the ‘60s and ‘70s in which teen cigarette use skyrocketed, not because of cigarettes themselves but because of the addictive contents within them such as nicotine.

Another reason vaping is on the rise is because of how often vapes are advertised, not necessarily commercial advertisement, but consumer advertisement. I frequently see posts about vapes or other substances containing nicotine every day.

In my opinion, vaping appeals to teens because of the psychological effects of nicotine on the brain and how frequently teens see vapes on the internet.

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