how to talk to your son about vaping and drugs

How to Talk to Your Kids About Vaping

• Arm Yourself With Relevant Info Only 2 in 5 parents are confident that they can influence their child not to vape, according to the Ad Council and C+R Research. ...
• Focus on Short- and Long-Term Health Risks ...
• Be Mindful of Your Child's Stress ...
• Strive to Be Empathic and Calm ...
• Practice—Then, Keep the Convo Going ...
• Be Positive ...

Full Answer

How do I talk to my child about vaping?

A much higher percentage of kids have tried vaping than most parents recognize. There is a distinct possibility that your child has experimented with vaping. Make sure to start by thanking them for being honest. This is key for continuing an open conversation and relationship of trust. Explain that your motivation is protecting and caring for them.

Why do kids vape?

Most kids start vaping due to curiosity, because friends and family vape, the appealing flavors, to do vape tricks, or because they think it’s cool or want to fit in. Over time, vaping can become habit-forming as kids use it to address other needs such as relief from boredom and anxiety.

How can I protect my child from vaping and nicotine dependence?

You can play a significant role in protecting your child from the dangers of vaping and nicotine dependence. Maintain an open line of communication with your kid, and use the tips and suggestions below as a framework for having a productive conversation.

How do you talk to your kids about drugs?

ONE: Start talking to your kids when they are young. JM: Long before your kids face the pressures of adolescence, they should know your stance on drugs. If you convey the message that experimentation is OK, they’re more likely to use drugs.

What to ask a child who has tried vaping?

How to make your child not vape?

How to get people to think about vaping?

Why do kids vape?

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How can I help my son stop vaping?

5 Tips to Help Teens Quit VapingReason with your child. Have an honest discussion about the effects of vaping and how this type of addiction can lead to other substance abuse. ... Be present. ... Talk, don't punish. ... Appeal to their desire for independence. ... Equip them with support and resources.

How do I talk to my son 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...

How do I discipline my child for vaping?

Before giving them a harsh punishment, make sure you talk to them about why they're vaping and how often. Give them the low-down on the negative effects of vaping, but don't scare them into throwing it away. Always give them appropriate consequences and be consistent with your discipline approach.

Does vaping cause behavior problems?

Vaping with or without nicotine has been shown to impact impulse control, especially in young adults whose brains have not fully developed yet. Some of these risks include mood disorders and permanent damage to parts of the brain responsible for memory, emotion and critical thinking.

What can someone do if they become addicted to vaping?

It's best to seek help as early as possible. This could mean speaking with a loved one, a medical professional or a support group." "The longer you let vaping addiction go on, the more difficult it will be to stop. The time to start making changes is now.

What are 5 risks of vaping?

Vaping has been linked to lung injury.Rapid onset of coughing.Breathing difficulties.Weight loss.Nausea and vomiting.Diarrhea.

What to do when your teen is caught vaping?

If your child is caught vaping or admits to vaping, try to stay calm and non-judgmental. Listen, don't lecture. Try to understand their feelings. Avoid showing judgment.

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 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 does vaping do to you mentally?

Though nicotine has not been found to directly cause mental health conditions, peer-reviewed studies reveal troubling links between vaping, nicotine, and worsening symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as higher odds of having a depression diagnosis.

What does vaping do to the brain?

The majority of vape liquids contain nicotine. In addition to being highly addictive, nicotine alters the neurotransmitters in the brain. It has been found to slow brain development in teens and affect memory, decision-making, concentration, self-control, and mood.

Which mental health issues can nicotine addiction lead to?

Moreover, nicotine dependence shows high comorbidity with many mental illnesses including, but are not limited to, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety disorders, and depression.

What parents need to know about vaping?

becoming a smoker: Young people who vape are more likely to start smoking regular (tobacco) cigarettes and may be more likely to develop other addictions in the future. impotence: There is some evidence that vaping can cause sexual dysfunction in men. sleep problems. exposure to cancer-causing chemicals.

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.

What are good questions to ask about vaping?

Your questions about vaping, answeredWhat is vaping?When is vaping legal? Illegal?What is in e-liquids/vape juice?Is vaping ever safe?Does vaping always involve nicotine?Is vaping addictive?Are there any advantages of vaping compared to smoking traditional cigarettes?Does vaping help people quit smoking?More items...•

Why do kids start vaping?

Young people start smoking or vaping for a variety of reasons; peer pressure, the belief that it relieves stress or looks cool, to lose or control weight, easy access, and role models or family members who use tobacco.

How to Talk to Your Kids about Vaping - American Lung Association

4 Consider this an ongoing conversation. When you first bring up the subject, your kid might be caught off guard and reluctant to engage. But once you open the door to the topic, they’ll be more inclined to

What are the factors that influence vaping?

One of the largest motivating factors of youth vaping is influence from friends or classmates.

How to talk to a child about a lecture?

As you talk to your child, avoid judgment or frustration. Kids may pick up on your tone and tune out or react defensively. An open conversation will disarm the notion that this is a lecture.

How to reintroduce a conversation topic?

Make sure to leave lines of communication open. Fact sharing is a great way to reintroduce the conversation topic.

How to help a child with stress?

Unfortunately, stress is universal and can be experienced at a young age. Talk to your kid about any larger concerns or pressures they may be feeling. Make sure they have healthy outlets for relief.

Does vaping hurt your lungs?

You know that vaping can damage your lungs, making it harder to play sports you love like [example]. Are you sure you want to risk something you love?

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.

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.”

What is Smokefree Teen?

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

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.

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.

Why does the author suggest talking to teens about how the makers of tobacco products are trying to manipulate them?

Instead of harping on the dangers of smoking, he suggests talking to teens about how the makers of tobacco products are trying to manipulate them — because no teenager wants to believe they could be easily manipulated.

Question

I caught my 16-year-old son vaping. I explained that this is not allowed and discussed the harmful effects. I found out through reading his texts that he was doing it again, had purchased products and was even buying vape products for other kids. I confronted him, took it all away and made it very clear that it is not allowed.

Answer

We're glad to hear you talked about the harmful effects of vaping with your son. What's scary is that it is still a new concept, as cigarettes were back in the day, so the long-term effects of vaping ​are yet to be known, but there likely will be some, as those who vape are still inhaling nicotine in liquid form.

How to talk to a child about vaping?

Rather than asking, “how could you do something like this?” open a dialogue by inviting your child to ask you questions and use this as a chance to learn more about their experience. Ask them about how they were first introduced to vaping, what types of pressure they feel to participate, and how they feel about their usage as well as how others around them are using it. Understanding the experience of your child will allow you to help them better. For example, if they don’t want to participate but feel pressure to do so, you could help them practice saying no and figure out how to remove themselves from uncomfortable situations. Plus, approaching the conversation in this way will help your kids to see you as an ally they can turn to for help in the future, rather than an adversary to hide things from.

How many high schoolers use vapes?

In 2017, 11% of high school children reported using an electronic cigarette in the past 30 days; that number rose to 21% in 2018, and by 2019 27.5% of high school students admitted to using the vape product in the past month [1].

Is vaping safe for kids?

Explain the Health Risks Unfortunately, many children who decide to try e-cigarettes are not informed or aware of the health risks associated with consistent use of the devices. In fact, many kids are under the impression that vaping is a safe alternative to traditional smoking. Perhaps the most significant health risk associated with a nicotine addiction is the fact that health professionals are unclear about the long-term risks and effects these vaping devices will have on a young person’s health and brain development. Make sure you discuss this with your child and help them to understand what that could mean for them as they grow older.

Is Juul the same as vaping?

As a result of these many names, it can be difficult for parents to keep up with what their kids are discussing and doing. For example, while the Juuling definition is the same as vaping, it is even more specific as Juul is a brand name of vaping device.

How to talk to teens about drugs?

JM: Talk to your teen about what they think the consequences should be if they are using drugs. Ask them, "What do you think the consequence should be?" That way, there is no surprise about what will happen if they are caught. "This is what we said we would do and you knew beforehand what was going to happen. You made this choice. You made this choice with the knowledge of what was going to happen, so you made an informed decision." That leads to a higher level of conversation. You can ask, “What's going on here? Let's really talk about this."

How many kids are trying prescription drugs?

There are about 1600 kids who are trying prescription drugs for the first time every day.Teens are also experimenting with synthetic drugs like bath salts (not to be confused with Epsom salts) that are pretty new and haven’t been tracked in any survey yet. Download.

Why is parental disapproval important?

Parents’ disapproval is a huge factor in preventing substance use. If a teen believes that their parent disapproves of drug and alcohol use , they are going to be less likely to use. On the other hand, if the teen thinks their parent is okay with it, they’re going to be more likely to use. Advertisement.

What percentage of high school students use drugs?

According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA), 75% of high school students have used addictive substances, and approximately 16% of the U.S. population ages 12 and over met clinical diagnostic criteria ...

What are the warning signs of drug use?

JM: All the warning signs for drug and substance use sound just like signs of puberty. When you start to see a kid changing their friends, losing interest in things that they were interested in before, you maybe start to see grades change. The changes happen in three different areas. There's going to be a physical change, a social change, and a behavioral change. Read more warning signs here.

Is vaping bad for kids?

JM: Vaping is big. Usually when the kids get introduced to it, they're vaping just the “juice” (E-liquid comes in "kid-friendly" flavors like watermelon and blueberry). The perception of risk is low. There may not be any nicotine in it when they start, although there are issues with that. Any time that kids are getting that vapor into their lungs, they're going to have issues like popcorn lung that can cause irreversible lung disease. Then they're adding things to the vape, like THC and dab. Dab is butane hash oil. Basically, a small dab of THC is extracted from the cannabis leaf and is put into the vape cigarette.

What to ask a child who has tried vaping?

If your child has already tried vaping, it helps to understand why. Consider asking questions like: “What do you enjoy about vaping?” or “How does vaping make you feel?” Answers to these questions highlight your child’s needs that can be addressed in a healthier way. It is also important to challenge children on their perceptions of norms. Teens tend to overestimate how many of their peers vape and research shows that such overestimations increase the risk that they will vape to ‘be normal’ or just like their peers.

How to make your child not vape?

Set clear expectations. Share why you do not want your child to vape and indicate that you expect your child not to vape. If you choose to set consequences, be sure to follow through, and make sure that these consequences are not overly harsh, punitive or long-lasting.

How to get people to think about vaping?

Try using open-ended questions to get the conversation going, such as, “What do you think about vaping?” In these conversations, get their perspectives, acknowledge the potential appeal of vaping and help them weigh the risks against the perceived benefits. When answering their questions or comments, offer honest, accurate, science-based information rather than trying to scare them. Finally, try to have these conversations frequently, calmly and, if you can, before they try vaping.

Why do kids vape?

Most kids start vaping due to curiosity, because friends and family vape, the appealing flavors, to do vape tricks, or because they think it’s cool or want to fit in. Over time, vaping can become habit-forming as kids use it to address other needs such as relief from boredom and anxiety.