Mental Consequences Most teens believe they can smoke, vape, or chew tobacco occasionally or even regularly for a few years and then easily quit. The reality, however, is that addiction happens very quickly and makes it very difficult to stop using tobacco products (Figure 11.8). Using nicotine can rewire your brain so you are more likely to develop addictions to other drugs. Nicotine can also make it harder to concentrate, learn, and control impulses. People who use nicotine are more likely to engage in other risky behaviors, such as sexual activity and illegal drug use. Nicotine can also make mental health conditions and mental illnesses worse if people use nicotine to relieve symptoms instead of seeking treatment. Social Consequences Tobacco use can seriously harm a person’s social relationships. An addiction to nicotine hurts not just the person with the addiction, but also everyone around that person. When people feel dependent on a substance Research in Action Tobacco Use and Risky Behaviors Did you know that engaging in some risky behaviors makes you more likely to try others as well? Risky behaviors are actions that can have negative health consequences. They include behaviors like smoking cigarettes, vaping, being physically violent, texting and driving, and engaging in high-risk sexual activity that can result in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies. Many teens tell themselves that risky behaviors are not harmful if they are less risky compared to other behaviors. For example, some teens justify their decision to vape by saying that vaping is safer than smoking cigarettes. What teens do not realize is that vaping makes them much more likely to smoke Practice Your Skills Practice Health-Enhancing Behaviors Research shows that teens who vape or smoke have riskier health-related behaviors than those who do not. With a partner, discuss what factors you think explain this association. Why does making one risky choice lead to other risky choices? What barriers prevent some teens from making better health choices? With your partner, brainstorm ways teens can end a habit of making risky choices. What resources and support could teens use? What information can arm them to resist negative influences and make healthier choices? Create an infographic that illustrates the influences leading to a pattern of risky behavior and steps teens can take to interrupt the pattern. cigarettes in the future. A 2017 study by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that students in grades 7–12 who had ever tried vaping were more than twice as likely to start smoking. Students who use tobacco products also have a greater risk of engaging in other risky behaviors. Researchers in one study compared the rates of risky behaviors among high school students who had or had never used tobacco products. Students who used tobacco products were more likely to engage in risky behaviors, including getting in a physical fight, texting and driving, and having more sexual partners. They were also more likely to use other health-harming substances, such as alcohol, marijuana, and illegal drugs. If they cannot smoke or vape, or if they are trying to quit, people may experience intense cravings, sadness, anxiety, or irritability. Mental Consequences of Addiction pathdoc/Shutterstock.com United States Food and Drug Administration Figure 11.8 Even if people want to, the consequences to their mental health make it very hard to quit vaping, smoking, or chewing tobacco. Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc. 374 Unit 4 Avoiding Hazardous Substances