One of the most harmful effects of nicotine is addiction – needing to keep smoking or vaping exposes you to the harmful effects of the other chemicals in tobacco or vaping products.
When adolescents are exposed to nicotine, there is evidence that they may become addicted more quickly.
The addictive properties of nicotine also cause withdrawal. Nicotine withdrawal can make you feel irritable, anxious or angry, and can make it hard to concentrate.
Nicotine can harm the parts of the brain that affect attention, learning, mood and impulse control.
Nicotine raises heart rate and blood pressure, and it can narrow or harden the walls of arteries (vessels carrying blood), which may lead to a heart attack.
Nicotine can cause poisoning. Symptoms of nicotine poisoning (sometimes called ‘nic sick’) include nausea, headaches, dizziness, diarrhoea, increased heart rate, and vomiting.
Young children can die or be seriously poisoned from even small amounts of nicotine, so it’s very important to keep vapes, e-liquids and other products out of reach of young children.
Read further information about vape safety around children.
Support to quit
Quitline 13 7848
The Quitline team are experts in supporting people to quit smoking and vaping. Call Quitline on 13 7848 to talk to a Counsellor who understands nicotine addiction. Quitline is available Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, and 9am to 5pm on Saturdays.
Ask Quitline to call you.
Download an app
There are some apps that can help keep you on track while you’re quitting. View available apps.
Aboriginal health support
Have a yarn to your local health service for quit advice and support. Or call Quitline on 13 7848 and ask to chat to an Aboriginal Counsellor, to help you through quitting.
Talk to your doctor
Your doctor or local health service can provide advice and guidance on ways to quit. They can also talk to you about whether NRT is right for you.