The following post is sponsored by Health Canada. As always all opinions remain those of the author.
The sun was out, the windows down, my youngest and I on the way to the mall. You could actually feel the seasons changing. Perhaps Mother Nature was going to give us a break and put an end to this horrid winter. As we chatted about all the things we hoped to find on our shopping trip my eyes were drawn to the car in front of us – a nasty plume of vapour was billowing out the front windows. What was going on in that car? It didn’t take me too long to figure out the vehicle in front of us was packed full of four teens, music cranked, all vaping. Feeling incredibly old I turned to my 17-year-old and asked “How many of your friends vape?”.
The answer was shocking.
The stats regarding teens that vape are sobering. “Data from a recent Health Canada survey showed that 23% of students in grades 7–12 have tried an electronic cigarette.”
It was time to do some reading, some soul searching and open a discussion. Here’s my question to you: how do we begin to educate our children and make sure they know about the risks of vaping? The simplest answer – talk to them. By educating our teens, we can arm them with the knowledge they need to keep themselves safe against the unknown long-term health effects of vaping.
Here’s how you can start the conversation with your teens about vaping:
*Take Advantage of Teachable Moments
As you go about your busy life take advantage of situations as they arise. A less formal approach with your kids is often best and a great way to clarify the facts and correct any misconceptions they may have.
*Ask Questions
Create an open dialogue with your teens and keep conversation going by participating in thoughtful listening and asking follow-up questions. Teens need to be heard.
*Know When to Ask For Help
If you’re not sure where or how to start, consider asking for guidance. Ask guidance counsellors, teachers, or your healthcare provider to talk to you or your teen about the risks associated with vaping.
*Be prepared to repeat the conversation
Teens don’t respond well to be lectured to, working facts into normal conversations and taking advantage of teachable moments may have to happen over a number of talks to make sure they are getting the important message that vaping is not harmless fun. Keep in mind that talking about it can also set the stage for other important discussions about tobacco, alcohol, drugs and other risky behaviours.
An educated teen is a safer teen. Make sure your teen knows the facts: Drive these points home.
*Vaping can lead to nicotine addiction. How? Vaping can expose you to nicotine,which is addictive.
*Vaping nicotine can alter teen brain development.
*Vaping can deliver nicotine to your brain, causing you to crave it more.
*Your teen may try and tell you that not all vaping liquids contain nicotine. This may be true, but for those that do, the level of nicotine can vary widely. Some vaping liquids have very low levels, while others can contain more nicotine than a typical cigarette.
*Vaping can increase your exposure to harmful chemicals and metals. One of these chemicals is formaldehyde. How scary is that?
*Vaping can cause lung damage.
Click here for more information about the health risks of other chemicals in vaping.
A scary fact, at this point, the long-term health impacts of vaping are unknown. Another fact, we can help protect our teens from the dangers of vaping by simply starting a conversation.
If you need more information about the health risks of vaping visit Health Canada, have a read, and then a chat, today.
For more information, visit: canada.ca/vaping
This is luckily a conversation I do not need to have but as a reformed smoker, I do not see vaping as a better alternative to quitting.
Our kids are grown now, but this is good to know for our grandson. It’s hard to know how to approach this generation, so thanks for the information.
I had no idea this was so high. The other thing I recently found out is that many of the vape devices contain LEAD!. Especially those made in China.
This is such an important conversation to have with your teenager.
I don’t think people realize that it can be just as addictive as smoking cigarettes because of the nicotine in the vape liquids.
I know people who gave up smoking to turn to vaping,some bad habit for another.I don’t get it.
That is great sdvice for parents. I’ve had more than a few friends die from cancer so anything to discourage smoking is good. The fact that we have no idea of the ling term effects is scary, not to mention the devices aren’t regulated & there have been a growing number of people dying from electric cigarettes when the battery explodes ( google it) Until there is more regulation, I think there sales should be restricted
There needs to be more awareness about this for sure. I know ppl that used vaping to quit smoking and willingly admit they can’t quit vaping..
I was lucky my teens didn’t have to worry about vaping but the same great advice works for many of the taboo things our kids should stay away from. People keep saying it’s not as bad as smoking but it hasn’t been around nearly as long and your still putting stuff in your lungs I bet in 5-10 years all those folks using vapes are gonna find out it’s likely much worse because it’s a vapour or on par with smoking cigarettes. Thank you!!
Thanks for the tips! Our son is 20 months old, so I’m sure these will still be handy when the time comes!
Thank you for this valuable information on vaping. Vamping is not hamless fun
Very valuable information and is always better to talk to kids about vaping.
This great advice I am just glad my kids are older now. But not looking forward to talking to my grandchildren about it when the time comes.
As a teacher this conversation seems to be coming up more and more even in grade 6. Parents are having a hard time with this and the post gives some really great advice!
I judged a speech contest locally recently where a teen girl did a great job on this topic.