A Simple Look at Nicotine Addiction and How It Affects Adults and Young People
1. What Does Nicotine Do to Your Brain?
Nicotine, found in cigarettes and vaping devices, tricks your brain into thinking smoking is important. It stimulates the release of a chemical called dopamine, which makes you feel good. However, this is not natural; it’s as if your brain is being deceived.
What Happens in Your Brain:
The part called the VTA sends dopamine to other parts.
The nucleus accumbens makes you feel happy.
The amygdala and hippocampus remember feelings about smoking.
The prefrontal cortex helps you make choices, but nicotine makes it weaker over time.
2. How Does Your Brain Change with Vaping and Smoking?
When you vape or smoke often:
Your brain makes more nicotine receptors to handle the nicotine. When you don’t vape, you feel a craving and want to vape more.
Your brain lowers dopamine levels when you’re not vaping, making you feel anxious or sad.
Your brain learns to connect vaping with things like stress, boredom, or being with friends. These cues can make you want to vape even if you don’t want to.
3. What Happens When You Stop Vaping or Smoking?
If you stop, your brain misses the nicotine, and you might feel:
Irritable: Because dopamine drops and stress rises.
Anxious: Nicotine was helping you stay calm.
Sad or depressed: Less serotonin and dopamine.
Forgetful or distracted: Less norepinephrine.
Trouble sleeping: Brain chemistry is out of balance.
Strong cravings: Your brain wants nicotine back.
These feelings are strongest in the first few days but can last for weeks or even months, especially when you see or feel things that remind you of vaping.
4. The Cycle of Nicotine Addiction
You vape → dopamine rises → you feel good.
The nicotine wears off → you feel low and want to vape again.
You vape to feel better.
This cycle repeats over and over.
It’s both your body and mind learning this pattern, which makes quitting hard.
5. Why Do People Keep Vaping or Smoking?
Habits: Doing it automatically, like after eating or during breaks.
Emotion: Using vaping or smoking to feel better when bored, stressed, lonely, or happy.
Social Life: Some see vaping as part of their friends or identity (“I’m a vaper”).
Self-Soothing: Vaping helps calm nerves because it releases feel-good chemicals.
6. How Can Young People and Teens Quit Vaping?
Quitting works best when you combine brain science and changing habits. Here are some ideas:
Use helpful medicines or patches to reduce cravings.
Talk to a counsellor, clinical hypnotherapist, therapist or join support groups if quitting is too difficult for you.
Recognise triggers (things that make you want to vape) and plan how to handle them.
Find new ways to relax, like breathing exercises, sports, or writing.
Think about why you want to stop and what good things will happen if you do.
Remember: Vaping and smoking are not just habits—they are chemical dependencies and emotional habits. Quitting takes effort and support, but it is possible!
Stay strong. Your brain and body will thank you!
MindTHS – Mind & Body Connected.