Once Luka started vaping, he quickly became addicted to the nicotine in e-cigarettes. His life only began to change after he suffered a seizure, a possible symptom of nicotine poisoning. This prompted his parents to send him to a 40-day rehab program.
Are e-cigarettes giving teenagers too much nicotine?
Vaping sent this teenager into rehab. His parents blame Juul's heavy nicotine dose. Doctors fear e-cigarettes are delivering far too much nicotine to teenagers. Luka Kinard, 15, of High Point, N.C., went through 40 days of rehabilitation therapy to help him kick a nicotine addiction fueled by e-cigarette use.
Who is Luka Kinard and what did he do to quit vaping?
Luka Kinard, 15, of High Point, N.C., went through 40 days of rehabilitation therapy to help him kick a nicotine addiction fueled by e-cigarette use. Courtesy Kinard family Luka Kinard knew his vaping habit was out of control when it started costing him $150 a week. “I was selling my clothes,” Kinard, a 15-year-old high school sophomore, said.
What happens after a teen goes to rehab?
Once rehab is complete, this is not the end of the teen’s journey to recovery. Cravings may come up for your child for many years, and temptations and stress can create new cravings for the rest of the teen’s life.
How can parents help a teen in rehab?
A teen in rehab will need support and love during this difficult time. Parents may also be invited to take part in education programs that teach addicted individuals how to cope with life after rehab, including how to deal with temptation and cravings.
Is rehab lonely?
It was very, very lonely in rehab. You’re very restricted in what you can and cannot do. You go through a lot of groups: Groups on sobriety, on self-awareness and on how to interact with other people. It’s a lot of useful information, but it was definitely not a fun experience. I wouldn’t want to do it again.
Is vaping a healthy way to be a teenager?
Being accepted is one of the biggest things we want to do. Parents and adults oftentimes forget that, but we’re still trying to figure everything out. Vaping is absolutely a way to fit in, but it’s not a healthy way at all.
High nicotine levels
This makes sense to Dr. Sharon Levy, director of the Adolescent Substance Use and Addiction Program at Harvard Medical School.
Advice to parents: Pay attention
Looking back, he can see what happened. At first, he just wanted to fit in.
One drug, many forms
When Kinard finished middle school, he was an "A" student, he and his mother say.
A rush to catch up
As teen vaping has spiked, public health and education leaders, as well as addiction treatment specialists, have had to learn and compile accurate information quickly as they try to understand the phenomenon and combat addiction and misinformation.
A turn for the worse
Looking back, Kinard believes his increased nicotine use from vaping and the cravings that went with it led to changes in his moods and habits. He began holing up in his room more often, and becoming more irritable. His grades started dropping around second semester of freshman year.
A new direction
Kelly Kinard and her son Luka Kinard, 15, (center two) spoke to a crowd at the Mooresville High School Performing Arts Center to discuss the d…
Why do kids resist drug rehab?
Underage people are more likely to resist treatment due to a lack of experience and foresight regarding how addiction will make transitioning into adulthood extremely difficult as well as how much drug abuse ...
What happens if a child is forced into rehab?
If the child was forced into rehab, or if deception occurred during active addiction as it usually does, it’s likely that trust between the parents and the teen will need to be rebuilt. Family therapy can be very helpful for this process, but the most important thing is to ensure the child is supported and feels loved.
How to tell if a child is addicted to drugs?
Parents who suspect drug abuse and addiction should keep an eye out for the signs: 1 Staying out late 2 Change in social circles 3 Changes in sleep schedule 4 Secretive or withdrawn behavior 5 Changes in hygiene or grooming habits 6 Unexplained weight change 7 Unusually large or small pupils 8 Health changes (feeling sick after staying out late) 9 Sudden reduction in ability to meet school responsibilities 10 Bloodshot eyes 11 Drug paraphernalia 12 Severe mood swings 13 Anxiety and paranoia 14 Decrease in ability to focus 15 Frequent unexplained lethargy 16 Increased aggression 17 Loss of interest in hobbies or extracurricular activities 18 Unexplained agitation or increase in energy followed by a crash
How old do you have to be to go to rehab?
Legally, people 17 years of age or younger can be put into residential drug rehab without their consent. This can seem like a very harsh decision, but there are circumstances where parents may have no other choice. When the teen’s life is at risk due to drug abuse, the resentment and anger that can result from forcing them into rehab is usually worth it. Keep in mind that a teen’s brain is still developing – up to age 25 – meaning that the damage done by drug and alcohol abuse will be much worse than it would be in an adult over the age of 25.
How many teens use illicit drugs in 2014?
Teen use of illicit drugs is more common than many parents realize. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, 27.2 percent of teens from grades 8-12 used an illicit drug at least once in 2014. Additionally, 19.4 percent of high school seniors reported binge drinking that year.
What is intervention in rehab?
An intervention is a very emotional event. The person with the substance abuse problem will often get caught up in that emotion and agree to go to rehab based on this, but if that emotion has time to wear off, that individual might have a change of heart and refuse.
What are the symptoms of a teenager?
Increased aggression. Loss of interest in hobbies or extracurricular activities. Unexplained agitation or increase in energy followed by a crash. Some of these are symptoms of mental illness like depression, anxiety disorders, or bipolar disorder. Others are just signs of being a teenager.
