Center for Health Education & Wellness

Nicotine Information

Nicotine is available in many different forms, all with varying degrees of health impacts. While nicotine use may be common, understanding how it affects your body and brain can help you make informed choices and know when to seek support to reduce or eliminate your risk. 

What is Nicotine

Nicotine is a highly addictive substance found in tobacco products, as well as many tobacco-free products, including:

  • Cigarettes 
  • Vapes/e-cigarettes 
  • Hookah 
  • Nicotine pouches 
  • Cigars 
  • Smokeless tobacco

Many vape products contain more nicotine than you might realize, and addiction can happen quickly. 

Nicotine Myths vs Facts

A common misconception is that nicotine isn’t harmful—only tobacco is harmful to human health. Even when nicotine is not paired with the same chemicals found in tobacco products, it can still have harmful effects. Here are some myth busters:

Myth: It’s just flavored vapor, not cigarettes or dip. 
Reality: Most vapes contain nicotine and other chemicals that can affect lungs and heart. 

Myth: I only use nicotine socially. 
Reality: Even occasional use can lead to dependence because nicotine changes how the brain responds to rewards and stress. 

Myth: It helps my anxiety. 
Reality: Nicotine may feel calming in the moment, but it often increases overall anxiety and stress levels over time.

Why Does Using Nicotine Matter? The Effects on the Brain & Body

Brain 

  • Shortens attention span and limits memory 
  • Can increase anxiety and irritability over time 
  • Often used to relieve stress but can make stress worse 
  • Withdrawal symptoms like cravings, irritability, and brain fog can negatively impact course performance and testing ability 

Body

  • Raises heart rate and blood pressure 
  • Affects lung health (especially with vaping aerosols) 
  • Long term use of nicotine breaks down the spinal cord and can lead to back issues later in life 

Signs You Might be Dependent on Nicotine

  • You feel strong cravings. 
  • You get irritable, anxious, or restless when you haven’t had it. 
  • You feel like you need it after you’ve eaten, drank, or experienced a stress trigger. 
  • You’ve tried to cut back and couldn’t. 

How to Cut Back or Quit

  • Delay the urge (wait 10 minutes, then 30 minutes the next time, add more time as you go). 
  • Identify stress triggers. 
  • Replace the habit (gum, walking, water, fidget). 
  • Don’t try to quit alone—support increases success.

Resources

  • Knox County Health Department: KCHD has trained tobacco prevention specialists dedicated to providing support and resources, regardless of where you are at in your quit journey. https://www.knoxcounty.org/health/tobacco/index.php 
  • Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine: provides telephone and online coaching, as well as free nicotine replacement therapy for those who qualify. www.tnquitline.org | Call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) | Text TN 2 Quit by texting “QUIT” to 615-795-0600. 
  • Smokefree.gov Quit Vaping Resources: provides resources to help manage triggers and cravings, handle vape addiction and withdrawal, and make your quit day a success. 
    https://smokefree.gov/quit-vaping-resources 

Sources