It’s Time to Have the “Other Talk”
You survived “The Talk.” Now it’s time to talk to your teens about vaping. Teen vaping has reached an epidemic level, and kids in middle school are starting. Vaping is dangerous to your child’s health and is highly addictive. Help prevent your teen from becoming one of nearly 8,000 kids who start vaping each day.
Have the conversation!
We can’t be in the room with you, but we can help you get ready. Check out our 10 tips and vaping facts below to help you get ready. You can do this.
10 Tips for Talking to Your Kids About Vaping
- Commit yourself to having a calm conversation about vaping. Don’t “freak out”…It’s just a conversation. Go ahead, practice in a mirror or with a friend.
- Get the facts straight. Come to the conversation with information, to help make sure you have an informed conversation with your child. Plan to ask your teen what they already know about vaping.
- Schedule a mutually-convenient time to talk. Ask for 15 minutes. Let your child know in advance that you’d like to share some information about vaping. Keep in mind the pressures you felt as a kid to “fit in.” Tell them it’s a calm, open discussion, not a lecture, interrogation or argument. Your goal is to share important facts about vaping because you care. Thank them for setting aside some time.
- Remind your child that they set aside time to talk. If they say they can’t, then ask them to reschedule. Tell them you just want to share some information, and that you promise not to take longer than 15 minutes.
- Congratulations! You’ve got your child’s attention (sort of). Tell them you just want to share information about vaping. Tell them you’ll stop, as promised, in 15 minutes. Start by asking how they feel about vaping. Listen to what they have to say.
- Tell your child that you’re there to provide information and answer any questions they may have so they can make informed decisions. Then share what you’ve learned. (You’ve reviewed the info below, so you’re ready to talk about it!)
- Ask how they feel about vaping, and why they think some teens vape. Listen to what they have to say. If they say they are curious and want to try it, ask them why. (Remain calm, even if they tell you they vape.) Even if they aren’t comfortable telling you that they vape, it’s best they get the facts from you. (Thank them for being honest if they tell you that they do.) Tell them you’re concerned about the health risks and addiction associated with vaping.
- When 15 minutes is up, tell them that you promised not to talk longer than 15 minutes. Ask them if they want to talk for a few minutes longer. (If they say it’s OK and you can keep talking, then say great. Don’t show that you’re screaming “YEAH!” in your head.) If they answer is no, then thank them for talking. As you leave, tell them you’re always there if they want to talk or need help, including helping them fight stress or peer pressure.
- Make sure you are setting a good example. Make your home a smoke-free environment. Parents who vape are more likely to have children who will vape.
- CONGRATULATIONS. You did great! High-five! Keep up the great work. Parents are the best line of defense in educating and protecting children to the risks of vaping. Continue to talk to your kids about vaping!
Know the Facts
What’s the difference between vaping, e-cigarettes and Juuling?
Nothing. It’s all the same.
Many teens think vaping is just flavored water. It’s not.
Just one vaping pod may contain as much nicotine as one pack of cigarettes, making it extremely addictive. In addition to nicotine, aerosol “e-juice” contains dangerous chemicals including formaldehyde, THC and CBD, which are linked to serious lung disease.
Vaping can cause irreversible lung damage and lung disease.
Vaping aerosol contains and emits potentially toxic substances, causing health risks, including coughing, wheezing, lung damage, brain damage and worsening asthma. Vaping is not FDA approved and studies as to the health impacts of vaping are ongoing.
Why do kids try vaping?
Remember, good kids vape, too. Kids who are “high-achievers” may feel stress, others just want to fit in. Many kids don’t think vaping is dangerous and think that it’s better than cigarette smoking. But switching from cigarettes to vaping is not quitting smoking. Advertisers promote the candy flavors in vaping pods, but vaping aerosol is not just flavored water, it contains harmful chemicals and nicotine. Family members who smoke or vape, make it easier for kids to start, too. But no matter why kids start, addiction makes it extremely difficult to quit.
How many kids vape?
Research shows that 1 in 4 high schoolers and 1 in 10 middle schoolers have vaped in the last month. Vaping has created a new generation of nicotine-addicted Americans. Both the FDA and the U.S. Surgeon General have declared it an epidemic. And the numbers are increasing. It is estimated that close to 8,000 young people start vaping every day.
Using Tobacco? We Can Help You Quit.
Becoming tobacco free can literally be a life-changing achievement. At WellSpan, we understand the decision to quit is the first step in a long path toward a healthier you. That’s why we provide education, self-guided programs and classes to help anyone reach their goal of a tobacco free lifestyle.
We know it’s hard to quit. Take the first steps.
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