Ways To Handle Your Teen Vaping
Over the last 20 years, the number of teenagers smoking cigarettes has decreased by nearly 40%. This steady decline is due in part to physicians, lawmakers and advocacy groups that diligently worked to pass new regulations and educate youth on the dangers of smoking. Now, however, e-cigarettes and vapes are undoing years of hard work and renormalizing teen smoking.
The Vape Epidemic
At first, vaporizer companies marketed these products as a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes. Big name brands like Juul even encouraged young smokers to move from cigarettes to vape pens with its Make the Switch Campaign. Others falsely advertised that their products were nicotine free, even though a single pod could contain 20 cigarettes worth of nicotine.
Meanwhile, millions of adolescents started vaping. By 2019, more than 10% of middle schoolers and 27.5% of high schoolers were using vapes and other cigarette products. As usage increased, many began to suffer the consequences, which can include structural changes in lung tissue and the brain. Vaping has also been linked to cognitive deficits, impulsive and aggressive behavior changes and an increased risk of using combustible cigarettes in the future.
As if the short-term consequences weren’t enough to worry parents, scientists are still unsure how vaping will affect teens in the long run. That means your kids are willing test subjects in a potentially deadly experiment.
Of course, you want to protect your teen from the many dangers of vaping, but what do you do if they’ve already started? Whether you know for sure that your child is vaping or have reason to believe they are, there’s a right and wrong way to handle the situation.
Here are a few ways you can create an open dialogue, find out if your child is vaping and nip nicotine addiction in the bud.
1. Be Approachable
Whether your teen has or hasn’t started vaping, it’s important to address the topic and maintain an open dialogue about it. The trick is to find a balance between discussion and disapproval. You want your child to know you don’t approve of vaping, but that you’ll always love them and even if they try it and develop an addiction.
Being approachable will encourage your teen to be open and honest with you about vaping and any other issues they might struggle with. More importantly, if they admit to vaping early on, it’ll be easier to help them quit.
2. Ask Curious Questions
If you suspect that your teen is already vaping, try asking a few questions from a place of genuine curiosity. Approach the conversation with a level head to avoid acting on impulse and diving into a long lecture about the dangers of vaping. Refrain from making accusations and simply ask if they’ve tried vaping.
Try to find out where, why and how they started and what they like about it. Sometimes, teens will start smoking or vaping because they think it looks cool — even if they don’t enjoy it. Others might use it to suppress or cover up anxiety, depression and other mental illnesses. Use your questions to dig a little deeper and discover exactly why they started vaping.
3. Explain the Consequences
As you talk with your teen, ask them what they know about the health risks of vaping. If they already understand the consequences and can’t seem to stop, there’s no need to rattle off a laundry list of side effects. However, if they’re unaware of how vaping can affect them in the long and short-term, it’s crucial that you share this information with them.
Do some research before you approach your child and share your findings with them. Point to scientific evidence and express your genuine concern. Try to find out how long they’ve been vaping and ask if they’ve experienced any side effects. Depending on when they started and how frequently they vape, they may already be suffering the consequences of inhaling volatile organic compounds, additives and other chemicals without even knowing it.
4. Collaborate to Quit
After talking about it, work with your to and come up with a plan to help them quit vaping. Of course, you’ll have to find some kernel of motivation to get them to take initiative. Otherwise, they won’t feel a need to kick the habit. Ultimately, they must make the decision to quit for themselves and their own health.
Encourage them to make the right decision by crafting a plan together. Let your teen know you’re on their side by offering solutions and alternatives. If they feel involved, they’ll be more likely to follow through and stop vaping for good. Therefore, it’s best not to use rewards and punishments as motivators.
When to Talk to a Specialist
If your teen has become dependent on vaping and can’t “just quit,” you might need to see a specialist. Someone who’s familiar with adolescent addictions will be a great resource to your whole family. Plus, they may be able to refer you to a therapist if your child is struggling with co-occuring issues like depression and anxiety.