Negative effects of vaping on teens

When e-cigarettes were first sold, many claimed users would be adult smokers who wanted to stop smoking regular cigarettes.

But youth oriented marketing, sweet flavors that appeal to kids and the availability of products that are easy to hide led to an epidemic of use among teens who have never tried regular cigarettes.

The number of teens vaping is down since a peak of over five million in 2019, but there are still over 1.6 million middle- and high school students vaping in the United States.

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

The aerosol produced by e-cigarettes can also have the same harmful toxins found in glue and paint. Researchers are still trying to find out if the toxic chemicals in e-cigarettes have long-term health effects, like heart disease and lung cancer.

If you’re worried about your teen vaping and want to support them with quitting or avoiding peer pressure, try these tips from Jennifer Cofer, Dr.P.H., executive director of MD Anderson’s EndTobacco™ Program.

Be proactive

As their parent, you are your child’s primary teacher. Start a conversation to find out what your child knows about vaping. You can ask them if they have seen people vaping at school or what their friends say about vaping. Talk about the harms of nicotine and let them know the benefits of not using any nicotine product. You can use a conversation guide like this one from the American Lung Association.

Highlight that nicotine disrupts brain development

Your child’s brain will continue to develop until their mid-20s supporting greater executive function, regulation of emotions and reward processes. Nicotine disrupts this growth and can upset attention, impulse control, mood and reward sensitivity. Using nicotine make youth more vulnerable to nicotine addiction, worsening mental health problems and substance-use disorders.

Show them vape products contain dangerous chemicals

The number of chemicals in an e-cigarette can reach as high as 2,000, according to some studies. These chemicals create the flavors and other characteristics of vape liquid. Carcinogens like acetaldehyde and formaldehyde as well as ingredients found in glue, car exhausts and weedkiller are also used in vape liquids. These substances can cause nausea, vomiting, lung damage and in some cases have been fatal.

Emphasize that tobacco companies target them

Tobacco companies spend millions of dollars every day on marketing and specifically target young people with cute names, candy flavors, celebrity endorsements and trendy packaging. Talk about advertising with your child and show them how misleading ads hide the true harms of vaping. This leads to a lifetime addiction and maximum profits at the expense of their health.

Emphasize that most teens don’t vape

Social pressure often pushes teens toward vaping so showing them that most of their peers choose to protect their health by not vaping can be powerful. More than 90% of high school students and over 95% of middle school students don’t vape.

Watch for signs they are vaping

Familiarize yourself with the different types of vaping products and be on the look-out for these hidden in backpacks or elsewhere in your child’s room. If your child is using nicotine, they may also have mood changes. Nicotine is a stimulant, which can cause irritability when they are using it and also when they are withdrawing from it.

Share resources designed for them

If you suspect your child is vaping, make use of quit programs that are designed for them. MD Anderson supports the EX Program, a text-to-quit tobacco and vaping program from the Truth Initiative. EX is a text-based service where anyone ages 13 and up can sign up to receive messages to support them as they quit. There are also resources for parents. Reach out for help by texting EXPROGRAM to 88709.

Role-play refusal skills

Help your child come up with ways to say no when vapes are offered or being used around them. Teach them to Avoid, Escape and Refuse. Avoid the offer entirely by staying out of situations where people may be vaping. Escape the offer by walking away or giving an excuse like, “I’m late for practice,” or simply “I’ve got to run, see you later!” If offered directly, refuse saying, “I have too much going on to start vaping,” or “Vaping will damage my brain.”

Don’t vape, smoke or use any form of tobacco yourself

Finally, be the best example you can be and don’t vape or use any tobacco product yourself. The best way to quit is by using medication to help with nicotine cravings plus counseling to help you navigate triggers that may cause you to relapse. Reach out for help by texting QUIT to 47848 or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (784-8669).