how to deal with teenage vaping

• Experts advise parents who discover their teen is vaping to react in a calm and measured manner. ...
• While there should be consequences for certain behaviors, the delivery of these consequences needs to come from a calm, rational place.
• Work with your teen to assess whether or not they have a nicotine addiction, and have an open discussion about getting them the help they need.

Full Answer

Why teens shouldn't vape?

The Top Three Reasons Teens Should Stop Vaping

• Lung Illness. Hundreds of teens have been hospitalized due to vaping related lung illnesses. The Chicago Tribune covered...
• Bad Devices. With the rising popularity of vaping, many counterfeited devices have entered the market. Vaping black...
• Death. The Center for Disease Control reported vaping related deaths have been...

How to help your teen quit vaping?

Offer your own suggestions as well:

• Know your reasons. Ask your teen to think about why he or she wants to stop smoking. ...
• Set a quit date. Help your teen choose a date to stop smoking.
• Avoid temptation. Encourage your teen to avoid people, places and activities that he or she links with smoking.
• Be prepared for cravings. ...
• Consider stop-smoking products. ...
• Seek support. ...

How is vaping bad for teens?

Why vaping is so dangerous for teens

• Teen vaping was a ‘predictable problem’. Experts say that one Juul pod – a cartridge of nicotine-rich liquid that users plug into the dominant e-cig brand – contains the same ...
• Teens’ brains might be more vulnerable to nicotine. ...
• It’s hard to get kids to quit. ...

Why do so many teens vape?

When it comes to why teens themselves say they vape, many of their reasons have a social connection. In the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey, middle and high school students named their top reasons for trying e-cigarettes as: “They see a friend or family member vaping, and they want to try it,” Richter says.

How do I stop my teenager from vaping?

You might want to talk to a health care provider who can suggest effective nicotine cessation programs that help teens kick the habit.Vaping has become an epidemic. ... Ask questions. ... Be patient. ... Help them remove temptation. ... Encourage them to have a plan. ... Point them toward more help.

How should I punish my child for vaping?

Most kids use vape pens because they cannot be easily recognized as e-cigarettes. Common punishments include community service, one-week suspension for first or second offenses, and even expulsion for repeated behavior.

What happens to teenagers when they vape?

Using nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. Each time a new memory is created or a new skill is learned, stronger connections – or synapses – are built between brain cells. Young people's brains build synapses faster than adult brains.

How do I talk to my teenage daughter about vaping?

Talk with Your Teen About E-cigarettes: A Tip Sheet for Parents. ... Know the facts. ... Be patient and ready to listen. ... not to deliver a lecture. ... Set a positive example by being tobacco-free. ... Find the right moment. ... Ask for support. ... coaches, or counselors whom you know are aware of the risks of e-cigarettes.More items...

What are the signs of a vaping addiction?

There are also several physical signs of addiction.Dry Mouth. Propylene glycol, a common ingredient found in e-juice, can cause dry mouth. ... Dizziness. Researchers monitored 33 smokers over 21 days. ... Coughing. For some, vaping is a gateway to smoking. ... Skin Problems. ... Itchiness. ... Dry Eyes. ... Nosebleeds. ... Nicotine Overdose.More items...•

Why do teenagers vape?

addiction, they like the “hit” they get from nicotine. appealing flavors (e.g. fruit, candy, dessert) devices are seen as trendy, or a status symbol. they consider vaping “harmless” and “safer than smoking” in order to quit or cut down on smoking.

What are 5 negative effects of vaping?

Coughing, dry throat, headaches coughing. dry mouth and throat. shortness of breath. mouth and throat irritation.

What can vaping do to a 15 year old?

Getting addicted to nicotine can make it harder for teenagers to focus and concentrate. E-cigarettes also contain chemicals that could cause cancer, and there are many reports of serious lung problems connected to vaping. Additionally, vaping can make teenagers more likely to start smoking regular cigarettes.

Is vaping worse than smoking?

1: Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but it's still not safe. E-cigarettes heat nicotine (extracted from tobacco), flavorings and other chemicals to create an aerosol that you inhale. Regular tobacco cigarettes contain 7,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic.

How do I tell my child not to vape?

Tips from teachers: how to talk to your kids about vapingFind the time to talk. The sooner you start talking, the better. ... Be direct. Say, “I don't want you to use e-cigarettes.” Tell them your reasons. ... Talk about the real facts. ... Focus on the social issues. ... Teach them to say no. ... More resources:

How can you tell if your house is vaping?

“The biggest thing to look for is paraphernalia, like chargers, cartridges, cartridge packs, e-juice bottles, etc.” he said of items that are left out inadvertently. Parents may smell odors if a child is vaping in the bathroom or bedroom, and they may spot symptoms if their child vapes a synthetic drug, he added.

What do you do when you catch your child smoking?

If you catch your teen smoking or vaping, avoid threats and ultimatums. Ask a few questions and find out why your child is smoking or vaping; they may want to be accepted by a peer group or want your attention. Talk about what changes can be made in your teen's life to help them stop smoking.

At what age do kids start vaping?

Young teens (ages 13 to 15): Young teens are starting to understand nuance and abstraction, but they're still unable to anticipate consequences in the same way as adults. As a result, this age group tends to be the highest risk-takers — and they're likely to have tried vaping already.

What happens if I get caught vaping at school?

Typical consequences may include confiscation of the vape, notification of parents, an administrative investigation and in some cases requiring the student attend an anti-smoking or anti-vaping class.

What do you do when you catch your child smoking?

If you catch your teen smoking or vaping, avoid threats and ultimatums. Ask a few questions and find out why your child is smoking or vaping; they may want to be accepted by a peer group or want your attention. Talk about what changes can be made in your teen's life to help them stop smoking.

How can you tell if your house is vaping?

“The biggest thing to look for is paraphernalia, like chargers, cartridges, cartridge packs, e-juice bottles, etc.” he said of items that are left out inadvertently. Parents may smell odors if a child is vaping in the bathroom or bedroom, and they may spot symptoms if their child vapes a synthetic drug, he added.

Why is vaping easier to hide?

Vaping is easier to hide because it doesn’t leave a telltale odor of traditional cigarettes or visible secondhand emissions, says Steven Schroeder, M.D., director of the Smoking Cessation Leadership Center at the University of California San Francisco.

What is this is quitting?

This is Quitting is a smoking cessation program developed by Truth Initiative in collaboration with Mayo Clinic that offers a texting program to help quit e-cigarettes. Teens can enroll by texting “QUIT” to 706-222-QUIT. The program delivers tailored messages via text that give age-appropriate quitting advice.

Is vaping a teen epidemic?

Using e-cigarettes (vaping) is now a teen epidemic. Between 2017 and 2018, e-cigarette use among middle schoolers increased by 48 percent and among high schoolers by 78 percent, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. More than a quarter of all high school students are frequent e-cigarette users.

Is nicotine addictive?

Nicotine is highly addictive; it’s what gets users hooked, Folkenroth says. Nicotine exposure during adolescence can harm a teen’s developing brain. The inhaled aerosol also contains other potentially harmful chemicals, such as acrolein and diacetyl, both of which have been linked to serious lung damage.

Is parenting a teenager fun?

Parenting teens can be lonely, hilarious, frustrating, and fun. No matter where you are, we're here for you.

Can parents stop vaping?

Parents can feel lost and even a little desperate when it comes to stopping vaping. But the American Lung Association cautions against this kind of screening. Instead they favor education, consistent parent-teen communication, positive support, and parents connecting teens with intervention or cessation programs.

Do e-cigarettes contain nicotine?

She was right to be concerned. “Almost all e-cigarettes contain nicotine, even those that claim they don’t, because there’s no FDA oversight of the manufacturing,” says Jennifer Hobbs Folkenroth, national senior director, tobacco control at American Lung Association.

How to approach a teen who is vaping?

The best and most effective way to approach teens vaping is not to be confrontational. Calmly approach them and speak to them in a regular voice. Do not yell at them or strike them. Doing this will put the child on the defensive and make them more confrontational.

How to educate teens about vaping?

How to Educate Teens on Vaping. The best way to educate teens about vaping is to tell them about the risks associated with it. Some teenagers do not know that vaping could cause damage to their health, so making them aware of this fact could convince them to quit.

Why Are So Many Teens Vaping?

There are many reasons why vaping is on the rise among teenagers. A lot of teens like vaping because they are attracted to the high tech look and feel of the vapes.

How many cigarettes are in a Juul pod?

In fact, the amount of nicotine in some Juul pods can be the equivalent of 20 cigarettes. A nicotine addiction could also result in vaping teens using tobacco. In 2018, the National Academy of Medicine reported that vaping could increase the chances of someone starting smoking.

What is the CDC recommendation for vaping?

The first thing they say is that parents should be tobacco and vape free themselves. Choosing not to smoke or vape will set a good example.

What happens if you spot a student vaping?

Failure to do so is a violation of many school policies, and ignoring vaping could result in being fired.

How do teens overcome nicotine addiction?

Teenagers can overcome their addictions to nicotine through willpower and assistance from supportive family and friends.

What to do if parents find something?

If parents do find something, they can be supportive by asking how they can help, Dr. Camenga says.

How do peers influence kids?

Peers can have lots of influence over activities. “Instead of hanging out with the kids that they vape with, perhaps there are other activities they could be participating in,” says Krishnan-Sarin. “Encourage your kids to participate in healthy activities like clubs or sports teams.”

Does Juul have nicotine?

In fact, the vaping liquid in Juul’s pods contains surprisingly high levels of nicotine. Though a 5% nicotine by weight pod contains less than an eyedropper-full of liquid, it delivers the same amount of nicotine as a person would get by smoking an entire pack of regular cigarettes.

Can parents talk about vaping?

If possible, parents can offer their own stories about vaping, especially if they currently do it. Parents can talk about the vaping they’ve seen. The conversation can also speak directly to peer pressure. All parents have situations they remember in which they were pressured to do something, like try a substance or cheat on a test. Sharing these stories can help make teens more comfortable and willing to open up about theirs, says Lebowitz.

Does nicotine affect concentration?

Not only can nicotine cause physical changes in the brain, leading to difficulty concentrating, these changes can be permanent. Parents can look up resources through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Office of the U.S. Surgeon General .

Can parents be ready for a conversation?

With a little preparation, parents can be ready, no matter who starts the conversation.

Does Juul pod contain nicotine?

Careful to avoid “lecture mode,” Dahl recalls that she gently pointed out that the classmates were spreading myths. All pods sold by Juul contain nicotine. She kept the conversation going by asking the boys what they thought about vaping. Dahl says that getting teens to understand the contents, both known and unknown, in vaping liquid has been one of the most challenging parts of her job.

How to react when a parent discovers their child is vaping?

Getty Images. Experts advise parents who discover their teen is vaping to react in a calm and measured manner. Ask questions and listen to the answers they give.

What to do if your teenager is addicted to nicotine?

If your teenager has a nicotine addiction, your first step should be consulting with their pediatrician or your family doctor. They can help you determine how serious the addiction is and what options might be available for helping your teenager quit.

What is the most important thing Jenssen and Mopper discuss?

One of the most important things both Jenssen and Mopper discuss is avoiding a situation where you might catch your teenager vaping before being aware it’s something they’ve tried.

What is Smokefree Teen?

Smokefree Teen is another resource with apps and texting options teens can access at any time.

How many people vape in school?

He says his clients report that, “at any given time between classes, there can be 15 to 20 people vaping in the school bathroom.”

Why is it important for teens to push back against their parents?

“As kids turn to teens, it’s natural for them to push back against their parents to assert their independence and to turn to their peers for support and guidance instead,” Mopper said.

How many high school seniors have vaped?

In December 2018, the National Institute on Drug Abuse released a report detailing a “dramatic increase” in the use of vaping devices by teenagers, stating that 37.3 percent of high school seniors had vaped within the previous year.

How old do you have to be to sell vaping?

That means that retailers should check buyers’ ID and refuse to sell vaping products to anyone who is under age 21. It also applies to online sales.

How to tell if a teen is using nicotine?

Explore and see where the conversation goes.”. You also can look at your child’s behavior. “Kids who vape talk about feeling irritable,” he says. “They may start to have a short fuse and lose their temper easily.”. Irritability can be a sign that your teen is using nicotine because it’s a stimulant like caffeine.

What happens if you use e-cigarettes?

If they use e-cigarettes, they also may start to feel more anxious or depressed, or have problems concentrating.

Why are e-cigarettes bad for you?

That’s a problem because most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which damages young, developing brains.

When will tobacco be pre-approved?

FDA pre-approval. Finally, by May 2020 all manufacturers of any tobacco product that want to remain on the market must submit an application to be pre-approved by the Food and Drug Administration . Manufacturers now must prove that their product will not be used by children.

Can nicotine withdrawal cause irritability?

Withdrawal from nicotine also can cause irritability.

Can a teenager vape?

Even with these laws in place, underage users will be able to find a way to access e-cigarettes and other vaping products, so it’s important to stay connected to your teen.

What to do if your kid tried vaping?

Teach, don't preach. If you do find out that your kid has tried vaping, resist the temptation to read them the riot act. "You're not going to punish, yell, or shame your kid out of vaping," Koval says. Megan Jacobs, managing director of product innovation at Truth Initiative, agrees.

What if e-cigarettes were Romaine lettuce?

If E-Cigs Were Romaine Lettuce, They'd Be Off The Shelf, Vaper's Mom Tells Congress. Dr. Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin, a psychiatrist at Yale University, who specializes in teenage substance abuse, says when it comes to some ingredients, "we don't really know the long term effect on your health.".

How to talk to your kids about bullying?

Instead of wagging the finger, invite your kids to ask questions — and ask them questions of your own, to find what what kind of pressure they're experiencing. Koval says this can be a jumping off point for a good conversation. "Ask,don't tell. 'Is Juuling really popular in your school? How are you feeling about it?' Parents need to understand how much bullying is going on, how much peer pressure is going on."

Do vape pens leave a smell on clothes?

Vape pens are easy to conceal, they're easy to confuse with other electronic gadgets like USB flash drives, and they generally don't leave lingering smells on clothes. All these things make them appealing to underage users, and confounding to parents. Gone are the days when sniffing a teenager's jacket or gym bag counted as passive drug screening. Now if parents want to know if their teens are vaping nicotine or cannabis, their best bet is a good old fashioned conversation.

Can a teen quit vaping?

If your teen vapes, Krishnan-Sarin says to take it as seriously as any other addiction, and be aware of how hard it is to quit. "Some kids may experience the physiological and psychological symptoms of withdrawal, and might need pharmacological support like nicotine replacement therapy." For teen-specific social support, Truth Initiative developed This Is Quitting — a vaping cessation program for young people. To join, text "DITCHJUUL" to 88709.

Is vaping harmful to kids?

Elsa Pearson, a policy analyst at Boston University, says that among this generation, smoking is "a complete faux pas" but vaping is seen as benign — and cool. "Kids don't see [vaping] as harmful — they see it as very different from smoking cigarettes," Pearson says.

Is vaping dangerous for teens?

Vaping has become ever-present among teens, but the health risks are real. How do you talk to your kids about vaping?

How do you know if your child is vaping?

Symptoms such as headaches, irritability, behavioral issues, mood changes, anxiety and depression are all common, and the onset can happen virtually overnight. Often, these are the first signs parents have that their child is vaping.

Why do teens become dependent on nicotine?

The fact is that teens are especially vulnerable to becoming dependent on nicotine, even after just a few weeks, because their brains are still developing and they are consuming elevated amounts of the drug.

What is Connect 5 for teens?

In addition to general education, the CONNECT 5 teen platform is designed like a streaming style interface, where teens can browse through different series and episodes on how to make a positive impact on their health by quitting the use of nicotine products.

Is it too late to quit smoking?

If you use tobacco products, it’s never too late to quit. Talk to a healthcare professional about quitting all forms of tobacco product use. For free help, visit https://smokefree.gov/ or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW . Adopt tobacco-free family rules, including the use of vaping products.

Is it hard to quit vaping?

It’s important to understand that it can be as difficult to quit vaping as it is to quit smoking, perhaps even harder. Many teens often don’t realize the amount of nicotine they are ingesting. One Juul pod, for example, is the equivalent of a full pack of cigarettes.

What to do if a friend offers a cigarette?

Discuss what they might say if a friend offers a cigarette or e-cigarette. Set a good example. If you smoke or vape, the best thing you can do is quit. At a minimum, don’t smoke around your children. Establish a smoke-free home. Don’t allow family members or friends to smoke in your home or car.

How to steer kids away from tobacco?

Here are some of the most effective ways you can steer your kids away from tobacco: Maintain a dialogue. Start early — begin talking with your kids about smoking and vaping in kindergarten. Be honest and open to seeing things from your child’s point of view. And don’t stop.

What are tobacco companies targeting?

Tobacco companies are targeting young people with ads, price discounts and enticing new products such as e-cigs designed to look like sleek gadgets. Many teens and young adults exposed to these efforts are highly impressionable and dealing with social pressures to “fit in” with peers.

Can you smoke with your kids?

At a minimum, don’t smoke around your children. Establish a smoke-free home. Don’t allow family members or friends to smoke in your home or car. Make sure the places your child spends a lot of time are tobacco-free. If your child has started smoking or vaping, try to learn why.

Why is vaping so common in teens?

It’s common for teens’ first exposure to vaping to come as an effect of peer pressure , says Dr. Katherine Williamson, a CHOC pediatrician. The dramatic rise in vaping among teens is alarming to pediatricians and parents alike.

Why do people use e-cigarettes?

Some people use e-cigarettes to vape marijuana, THC oil and other dangerous chemicals. Besides irritating the lungs, these drugs also affect how someone thinks, acts and feels.

What is a choc teen?

CHOC teen advisers, a group of teens active in their community, committed to academic success, and who support CHOC’s mission, offer their advice for teens struggling to deal with peer pressure to vape.

Is vaping worth it?

In these situations, it’s your choice how to respond. Vaping is simply not worth it. Do not be guilted or tempted by those around you.”. – Andei, age 16. Consider the long-term consequences. “You may not feel it at first, but as you vape, your lungs are being damaged.

Is it easy to vape when you are peer pressured?

Avoid ing peer pressure to vape might not be an easy task, but it’s far easier than having to withdraw from addiction.”. – Christian, age 17. “Always think about the serious health consequences of vaping. It’s very addictive, causes breathing difficulties and increases your risk of cancer or even death.”.

Is vaping a peer pressure?

It’s common for teens’ first exposure to vaping to come as an effect of peer pressure, says Dr. Katherine Williamson, a CHOC pediatrician. “The rate at which vaping has increased over the last several years see is really scary for me to see as a pediatrician,” Williamson says. CHOC teen advisers, a group of teens active in their community, ...