While it may feel like vaping is everywhere, research shows that most UB students do not use nicotine. According to the Spring 2025 National College Health Assessment, 24% of UB Students have used nicotine products in their lifetime. Of those groups, only 8% use nicotine daily.

Vapes pose a significant risk to our planet’s wellbeing. Disposing vapes in conventional waste/recycling programs can cause the lithium batteries to catch fire, and it can leech harmful chemicals into the environment. Vapes need to be disposed of by facilities that can process both electronics and hazardous chemical waste.

Research is still emerging on exactly how vaping affects the human body, but we do know it increases your risk for asthma, heart disease, lung conditions, and some cancers. 

Nicotine vapes tend to be much higher in concentration that conventional cigarettes, increasing the onset and severity of addiction. Nicotine addiction can alter the developing brain (i.e., the brain of anyone under the age of 25) to make them more susceptible for mental health disorders and other addictions later in life. 

Whether you’re looking to quit, cut down, or just get rid of some of your old pens, Health Promotion is here to help. Follow these instructions to enter: 

• Vapes can be collected during business hours at the Health Promotion 114 Student Union suite during the month of October. 
• Each vape must be placed into its own Ziplock bag. We will provide bags at 114 SU for disposal, but we’ll need you to bag up your own vapes before we can accept them.  
• For every vape you donate you will receive one entry to win the JBL Bluetooth speaker. Winners will be drawn during the first week of November.