Teenagers and Vaping – What Parents Need to Know
Vaping and e-cigarettes have become enormously popular in recent years and the industry is expected to overtake tobacco products by 2023. Many adults have switched to e-cigarettes in a bid to quit their smoking habit. Vaping is safer than smoking tobacco products, as e-cigarettes don’t contain dangerous toxins like hydrogen cyanide, DDT, and arsenic. But it isn’t just adults that vape. Many teenagers have jumped on the vaping bandwagon. If your teen is one of them, or you think they might be susceptible to peer pressure, here’s what you need to know.
The Difference Between E-cigarettes and Tobacco Products
Unlike tobacco products, e-cigarettes don’t contain more than 5,000 toxins. Not all of them contain nicotine either. Unlike a cigarette, a vaping device doesn’t burn anything. Instead, a heating element creates a water vapor that may contain nicotine and can also be flavored.
If an e-cigarette does contain nicotine, the level will vary between different brands. Adults often use e-cigarettes to help them quit smoking, as they can still have a nicotine fix, but by slowly reducing the level of nicotine in the device, they are able to beat their addiction.
E-cigarettes and vaping products can be bought in local stores or from online retailers. There are some restrictions on the sale of electronic cigarettes and teenagers are not allowed to vape on school property. However, vaping is not illegal for minors and as long as your teen has photo ID showing he’s at least 18, he can buy e-cigarettes and vaping products.
This website is a good place to start if you or your teen is searching for good quality vaping products.
Young People and Vaping
Vaping is very popular with teens. Many teens start vaping without ever having tried cigarettes. E-cigarettes are cheaper than traditional tobacco products and come in a huge range of cool flavors. Teens can pick up fun mods and experiment with different vaping devices. And unlike cigarettes which are harmful to others, it’s safe to vape around their friends.
In 2014, the US Surgeon- General stated: “The burden of death and disease from tobacco use in the United States is overwhelmingly caused by cigarettes and other burned tobacco products; rapid elimination of their use will dramatically reduce this burden.”
E-cigarettes are far safer than tobacco cigarettes and as long as teens don’t use high-voltage devices that produce formaldehyde, there are few – if any – risks associated with vaping.
Encourage Teens to Quit Smoking
The main concern for parents is that if their teen vapes, he will become addicted to nicotine or is more likely to try psychoactive substances such as marijuana or prescription drugs. However, if a teenager is going to go down that route, he will probably do it irrespective of whether he vapes or not.
E-cigarettes are useful if your teenager is already a smoker. Encourage him to switch to vaping, so he can quit his smoking habit. In the long run, it is much better for his health.
If your teen vapes, try not to be concerned. Most teenagers experiment, and in the grand scheme of things, vaping is a lot safer than using prohibited substances like marijuana.
