When we think about addiction, we often imagine it as something that happens slowly over time. But the strategies Big Tobacco employs are carefully crafted to hook young people quickly. Modern vaping devices are not only highly addictive but are also ingeniously marketed to appeal to teens.

In fact, according to the Monitoring the Future study, vaping prevalence among U.S. adolescents remains alarmingly high. The study revealed the following:

• 12.1% of 8th graders, 18.9% of 10th graders, and 25.6% of 12th graders vaped in the past year.
• Near-daily vaping (20+ days in the past 30 days) was reported by 1.7% of 8th graders, 4.2% of 10th graders, and 7.8% of 12th graders.

Let’s take a closer look at the five levels of vaping addiction and how they work to keep users dependent.

1. Nicotine: The Brain’s Hijacker

Nicotine is the foundation of vaping addiction. But why is it so...