Nicotine and cannabis vaporizers have been making headlines lately, from the rise in vaping among teenagers to the outbreak of vaping-related illnesses nationwide.

But what actually is a vaporizer?

As federal and state leaders debate changes to vaping regulations and ban the sale of flavored vaping products, you may be wondering: What are the ingredients that people are concerned about? What are my teenagers inhaling when they vape? And how does a vape actually work? So let’s take a step back. Here’s your crash course in vapes.