Get support to quit vaping

Know the risks of nicotine

More resources for you

Choose to live Indigenous and free

Not Buying It

Don't let nicotine get in the way of your goals.

If you’re thinking about quitting or ready to quit – we are here to help.

Want to get info and support to quit vaping?

AK LIVE VAPE FREE

You can join for free by texting VAPEFREE to 873373

This confidential program for teens ages 13-17 shares proven strategies to quit and text messages from others like you who are trying to quit or successfully quit vaping.

Stress and anxiety can trigger nicotine cravings and make it harder to quit smoking, vaping and chewing.

Check out these tips to deal with stress instead:

  • Take deep breaths.
  • Go for a walk.
  • Do things that make you happy, like basketball or drawing.
  • Talk to an adult you trust, like a counselor or a health care provider.
Get More Tips

Create your plan to quit

Increase your chances of quitting successfully by a creating a personalized plan that will help you stay on track and be ready for the hard times.
Build My Plan

It’s typical to feel anxious or moody when you quit nicotine.

Talk to a health care provider or an adult you trust if these feelings are overwhelming or continue for more than two weeks.

If you need help now, talk with a trained crisis counselor:

Chat with a National Suicide Prevention Lifeline counselor online.

Call 988, the 24/7 National Suicide Prevention Lifeline for free, private help or dial 911.

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    Know the risks of nicotine

    Tobacco and nicotine products can contain toxic metals and cancer-causing chemicals found in car exhaust, gasoline and antifreeze. These chemicals don’t belong in your body.

      Addiction
      You might think you can smoke without becoming addicted, but most people who start as teens continue to smoke as adults. The chemical nicotine in tobacco and vapes can lead to addiction and increase your chances of getting hooked.
      Money
      Do you know how much major tobacco companies spend every year trying to get people to try their products? The answer is D - $25 million. Flavors and marketing ads are designed to get you hooked on nicotine early. Don’t let yourself be the target.
      Stress
      In the short-term, vaping might feel good by stimulating production of dopamine, the “feel good” chemical, in your brain. But these feelings don’t last long. Once nicotine wears off, you may crave more. Over time, it can take more and more nicotine to create those good feelings. The good news is, quitting is shown to lower levels of stress, anxiety and depression.
      Stress, anxiety and depression
      Some teens may turn to smoking or vaping to reduce stress, anxiety and depression, but evidence shows it may be making you feel worse. The nicotine in these products can worsen feelings of anxiety and increase feelings of depression. Quitting vaping can help improve mental health. A survey shows that 9 out of 10 teens who quit said they felt less stressed, anxious, or depressed.
      Chemicals
      Many toxic chemicals have been found in vapes, like propylene glycol, used to make antifreeze, diacetyl, linked to lung disease, and acrolein, used to kill weeds. These chemicals can cause lung damage and are known to cause cancer.
      Heavy metals
      When you vape, you’re breathing in cancer-causing chemicals, ultra-fine particles and heavy metals like nickel, tin and lead. Most vapes also contain nicotine, which can affect memory and mood and can be highly addictive.
      Brain development
      Until 25, your brain is going through a major growth spurt that can make you more vulnerable to addiction. Every time you use nicotine products like tobacco or vapes, it can cause changes to the “wiring” of the brain and the pathways that are still building connections. This makes your brain more vulnerable to addiction, impulse control, and even problems with learning and memory.
      Heavy metals

      Toxic chemicals like acetaldehyde and formaldehyde are known to cause cancer and have been found in vapes. In addition, when vapes heat up, even more toxic chemicals are formed. People who vape aren’t breathing in harmless water vapor.

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      More Resources for You

      Under age 18?

      While you can’t enroll in Alaska’s Tobacco Quit Line coaching sessions until you are 18, a quit coach can send you a quit kit with information about quitting smoking, vaping or chewing. Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or text “READY” to 34191.

      Alaska's Tobacco Quit Line

      Not Buying It on Instagram

      Follow our messages on Instagram for more facts and information. @notbuyingit.alaska

      Not Buying It

      Ready to quit chewing tobacco?

      Text SPIT to 222888 to get daily text messages that will help you quit chewing.

      Dipfree TXT

      Quitting can be tough, but you can do it.

      Nicotine addiction can look different from person to person. Even if you only use tobacco or vapes once in a while, you can be addicted. Check out additional info from Smokefree Teen.

      More help quitting vaping
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      Choose to live Indigenous and free

      Choose to live Indigenous and Free with ANTHC

      Check out these vaping resources from the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium.

      Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium

      Native Strong. Vape-free.

      The Next Legends campaign provides facts about vaping and resources for Alaska Native and American Indian teens.

      Next Legends
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