How to Talk to Teens About Vaping Risks > News > Yale Medicine

The aerosol from vape devices often contains nicotine, an addictive drug that can affect the developing brain of a teenager. On top of that, when you inhale the vapor from your e-cigarette, you also breathe in a variety of chemicals, some of which may be toxic. So, that seemingly harmless vapor has the potential to adversely affect your physical and mental health. Therefore, it is essential for parents to set a positive example by abstaining from vaping and other harmful behaviors themselves.

Lung injuries should be a warning about vaping’s risks

Knowing what situations make you want to vape, and having a plan to deal with them, will help you quit. Although cravings are common in the first few days of quitting, you’ll likely find that they eventually decrease in both frequency and intensity. If the cravings come with other withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches and hunger, staying hydrated can help. Take a short jog, ride your bike, or do some push-ups or jumping jacks instead of vaping.

How to talk to your teen about vaping

And if your teen has experimented with vaping and tobacco products, support their desire to quit. It’s often easier for young people to obtain e-cigarettes, especially if the products are popular among their friend groups. Adolescence can be a turbulent time that’s filled with self-discovery, social stressors, and school demands. Young e-cigarette users often rely on their vape devices to manage the stress, anxiety, and depression that come with this stage of life. Let people know what specific actions they can take to help you. Or you could ask a sibling to bluntly remind you of the health consequences, or to join you in a new exercise routine or hobby to reduce your stress and boredom.

• You also should share truthful facts and resources with them about the dangers of vaping and try not to use guilt or fear to motivate them.
• “Years ago, we had ashtrays everywhere, and then we saw a complete switch in social norms. I think we can do that with nicotine, whether it’s inhaled using vapes or cigarettes.”
• One out of four high school seniors reported past-month nicotine use, according to a recent survey funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
• “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.”

Peer pressure at school influencing teen vape use

• Those numbers are alarming to health professionals because the dangers of vaping are very real.
• Compliment your teen on their ability to think critically and independently.
• “You definitely need specific tools, and you need to practice specifically what you will say, if someone offers you a Juul and you don’t want to do it,” she says.
• This is why having good skills to be able to say no are so important.
• However, a thoughtful and strategic approach to tackling the addiction and related habits can make all the difference.

Teens might be annoyed that their parents are invading their privacy, or afraid anything they share will land them in trouble. What parents may not know, however, is that their teens crave a listening ear and a chance to talk freely about this peer pressure. “They need to feel like they are not being judged or questioned about their use, but just need advice on how best to handle these situations,” Dahl says. Before the conversation, get comfortable with the key dangers and potential motivations for kids to vape. Expressing care and concern is one of the best ways to support your child. Two thirds of teens don’t even realize that e-cigarettes contain addictive nicotine.

For example, propylene glycol which is commonly found in antifreeze and paint solvent. It also contains formaldehyde which is a cancer causing chemical. Sometimes, the pressure of fighting against yourself to resist the pressure to vape can be just as difficult as doing it against someone else. Also, in social situations when everyone is vaping it can be even more difficult to say no. But it is still very important that for the safety of yourself, that you resist the pressure.

Seeking Support from Friends and Family

One afternoon last October, Tricia Dahl lingered in the kitchen as her two sons, then ages 14 and 15, and their friends filled their plates with pizza bites and chips. One of the friends turned to Dahl and said he’d heard a lot of classmates say that a popular vaping device didn’t contain nicotine in its refillable vape liquid. This conversation guide is a perfect tool to share with my children about the dangers of vaping. The facts and questions are presented [in] an easy way to understand.

Understanding the different types of peer pressure is essential in addressing this issue effectively. By recognizing the various ways in which peer pressure manifests, individuals can better equip themselves with strategies to resist the lure of vaping and make healthier choices for themselves. Vaping, which involves inhaling and exhaling aerosol produced by an electronic cigarette or other similar device, has gained significant popularity in recent years. The allure of this activity lies in its association with a sense of sophistication, rebellion, and an alternative to traditional smoking. However, the rise in vaping has also been accompanied by a concerning increase in peer pressure among young individuals. It may seem obvious, but make sure your kid understands that vaping comes with health risks.

Your conversation guide has been sent to the email address provided. Use information from our Get The Facts page to point out how proven physical damage to lungs and brain will affect any athletic aspirations. Do you know why JUUL pods and other e-cigarettes come in fruity flavors? A much higher percentage of kids have tried vaping than most parents recognize.

Dr. Popova says that changing social norms will be key to reducing teen vaping. Use information from our Get the Facts page to point out how proven physical damage to lungs and brain will affect any athletic aspirations. Illustrate how vaping takes an invisible toll on mood, memory and attention span, impacting academic or career goals. Your conversation tips which of the following is a type of indirect peer pressure? have been sent to the email address provided. While it may seem like they’re not listening, they hear you, says Dr. Susan Gasparino, a pediatrician and the director of Child and Adolescent Programming at the Center for Community Health & Prevention (CCHP). Dr. Gasparino shares tips to help parents have this tough, but necessary, conversation with their kids.

Peer pressure often happens during social times, such as the journey to and from school or during breaks. If you find yourself in these tricky situations, you can try to avoid them by having an excuse to leave. A sports club after school or a debate club during lunch times are also great ways to meet other people. Having somewhere to be means you can remove yourself from difficult circumstances.