For generations, nicotine has been the first drug many teens encounter. It's legal, it's everywhere, and it rewires the brain faster than most parents realize. Whether it's smoked, chewed, or tucked discreetly in a pouch, nicotine still tops the list for long-term addiction and health damage.
West Michigan youth data shows:
29% of high school teens report they have easy access to cigarettes
20% believe smoking 1 or more packs per day is not risky
9% of Michigan High school students report recent use of tobacco or nicotine
Street Names
CigsSnuffChewSwisherDip
What is Tobacco?
Tobacco is made from the leaves of tobacco plants. It contains nicotine, a highly addictive chemical. This chemical keeps people hooked on cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, and now, many vape products.
Nicotine reaches the brain within seconds, creating a rush of dopamine and a pattern of dependency. Teens often underestimate how quickly the dependence sets in or how hard the addiction to nicotine is to break. Whether delivered through smoking, chewing, or vaping, is highly addictive and harmful, and is one of more than 7,000 chemicals found in cigarettes.
Common nicotine sources include:
- Cigarettes
- Chewing tobacco (dip, snuff)
- Nicotine pouches (ZYN, On!, Rogue)
- Small cigars or cigarillos (often flavored)
- E-cigarette and vapes
Why it Matters for Teens
Nicotine changes the teen brain, not just temporarily but long term. It interferes with:
- Attention span and learning
- Impulse control and decision-making
- Emotion regulation and stress response
- Increased anxiety and depression
It creates a cycle: short-term calm, followed by withdrawal, followed by more use. What starts as "just trying it" can quickly become something they feel they need (nicotine addiction).
What the science says:
- Nicotine is as addictive as heroin and cocaine
- Teens can form dependency even with infrequent use
- Cigarette smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death
Just the Facts
Adolescence is a time of intense brain development involving the prefrontal cortex and the limbic system.
These are the areas that focus on logical thinking and decision making, emotional regulation and risk assessment. So, engaging in risky behavior, like vaping, can be part of normal brain development. However, using substances during this time can drastically increase the possibility of addiction occurring later in life.
Tobacco is a known carcinogen.
Linked to at least 12 kinds of cancer and is considered a risk factor in 20% of all cancer. Nicotine is among the most addictive substances known. This has made smoking one of the most dangerous health risks people engage in.
Smoking and vaping pose a threat to both physical and mental health.
Neither is a better choice, especially when considering the vulnerability of the developing adolescent brain.
Just because a substance has been classified as legal, that doesn’t mean it’s safe.
The cancer risks around smoking have been documented for 60+ years. Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances available. Globally, tobacco use is responsible for 8 million deaths every year.
A: Vapes contain nicotine which is the same product found in cigarettes and other tobacco products. Vaping is not safer.
A: Physical effects of nicotine include:
• Rapid heartbeat
• Increase blood pressure
• Shortness of breath
• Greater likelihood of colds and flu
• Brain development can be affected, even in older teens
A: Nicotine is rapidly absorbed after ingestion and inhalation. In young children, anything greater than .5 mg of nicotine has been associated with signs of poisoning. Any child ingesting more than one whole cigarette or more than 3 butts requires medical attention.
A: Michigan changed the legal age to 21 in July 2022 to comply with federal regulations. Those who start smoking or vaping before age 21 have the hardest time breaking the habit.