It might be that you’ve already started smoking or that people around you are encouraging you to smoke or vape. Whatever your situation it’s always good to know the facts about tobacco and nicotine so that you can make an informed choice.

Firstly, smoking can cost a lot of money. An average smoker spends about £55 a week on cigarettes. If you think about it over a lifetime, that could add up to about £150,000!
Similarly, while vaping might seem cheaper than smoking initially, the cost of buying vapes, pods, liquids and replacements can quickly add up. People spend hundreds of pounds each year on vaping, money that could be spent on lots of other, more fun things.

If you choose to carry on smoking cigarettes or vaping your skin will age more when you are older. It’s probably something that you might not think is important now, but trust us, no one likes to find their first wrinkle. Smoking can also affect your relationships and can mean that men might not be able to get an erection or have sex properly.

Using tobacco doesn’t just affect your pocket, most people who try smoking as a teenager find themselves addicted to tobacco. This can cause some serious consequences for your body and your health. Smoking is a direct cause of a number of different cancers and can cause heart disease, which means you may be more likely to suffer a heart attack when you are older.

Although vaping is less harmful than smoking cigarettes, it is not risk-free. Vaping can affect your lungs and may cause coughing, shortness of breath and irritation to your airways. This can reduce your fitness and stamina affecting your performance in sports and the gym. Researchers are still learning about the long-term effects of vaping, so there is still a lot we do not know about how it may affect health in the future.

Vaping can also affect your daily life. Running out of vape liquid or battery, worrying about where you can vape, or feeling the need to vape regularly can become frustrating and stressful. Being dependent on nicotine can make it harder to concentrate and can affect your mood when you cannot vape.

If you already smoke or vape and would like some advice and help to quit, come and see one of our advisors. We’ll talk to you and work out the best options to help you give up the habit. Our service is completely confidential, so what you tell your advisor about your smoking or vaping habits will stay between you and them, and you will get the support that you need to make an important choice about your body.