Teens and Vaping – What You Need To Know

The following post is sponsored by Health Canada.  As always all opinions remain those of the author.

My heart is full, my house is full.  Two kids, a dog, a cat and a whole lot of crazy. It’s our own kind of perfect.  As a mom I’ve strived to make my house a safe place to come home to.  A place where not only my children are welcome, but so are all of their friends.  We run on love, honesty and communication.  No topic is off-limits and one we’ve been chatting about lately is vaping.  Do you know much about this “new” thing?  It’s all the rage, all-too-common and apparently all-too-cool.  The problem: it’s really not cool.  The fact is, vaping is not harmless , and in my opinion, it’s downright scary and you need to have a conversation with your teens about it today.

Here’s what you and your teen need to know:

Vaping is not harmless

• Vaping can increase your exposure to harmful chemicals.
• Vaping can lead to nicotine addiction.
• The long-term consequences of vaping are unknown.
• It’s rare but defective batteries in vaping products have caused fires and explosions
• With vaping comes nicotine and of course its own set of health risks.

Risks of nicotine

Health Canada tells us, ”Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical. Youth are especially susceptible to its negative effects, as it is known to alter their brain development and can affect memory and concentration. It can also lead to addiction and physical dependence. Although Not all vaping products contain nicotine, the majority of them do, and the level of nicotine can vary widely. Some vaping liquids have very low levels, while others can contain more nicotine than in a typical cigarette. Even if a vaping product does not contain nicotine, there is still a risk of being exposed to other harmful chemicals.”

Vaping nicotine can alter teen brain development. Can you believe it?!

Vaping versus smoking

For smokers, vaping is less harmful than smoking. However, it is not safe for youth to use any nicotine products, including cigarettes and vaping products. 

Vaping liquids

Do you know what is in vaping liquids?  I didn’t.  Here’s the answer thanks to Health Canada.  

“The ingredients typically found in vaping liquids include glycerol, flavours, propylene glycol and varying levels of nicotine. The long-term safety of inhaling these substances in vaping products is unknown and continues to be assessed.

There is no burning during vaping, instead, the liquid is heated. This heating process can cause reactions and create new chemicals, such as formaldehyde. Some contaminants, such as metals, might also get into the vaping products and then into the aerosol.”

What to look for:

There are characteristics that can make vaping products more difficult for parents and teachers  to recognize or detect: devices come in a variety of shapes and sizes, some resembling a USB flash drive, liquids can have high levels of nicotine and come in a variety of flavours; and vaping may not leave a lingering identifiable smell.

Vaping products have many names, such as: e-cigarettes, vape pens, vapes, mods, tanks, and e-hookahs. They may also be known by various brand names.

This is what you can do.

Set a positive example

If you use tobacco or vaping products, be honest with your child about the risks, and any regrets, difficulties and health effects resulting from your experience. Talk with your teen about when and why you started to smoke/vape and explain how you thought it would make you feel, and how it is affecting your health. Keep the conversation going

Keep the conversation going

Youtuber MollyBurke takes her role as an influencer and role-model seriously and uses her power to tell her audience exactly what she thinks about vaping.  Molly wants to live her “best, most positive, healthy, strong life” and has some strong opinions on e-cigarettes, and vaping.  Molly tells her fans to “Be your own unique unicorn…don’t follow the rest of the herd.”

 

Educate your teen:

Vaping can lead to nicotine addiction.

Vaping can expose you to chemicals that could harm your health.

The long-term health impacts of vaping are unknown.

Parenting is a gift, a gift with responsibilities.  Each new year comes with new challenges, and it’s up to us to make sure our teens have every piece of information they need to make informed decisions so that they may live their best lives. 

If you need more information on vaping be sure to visit Health Canada at Canada.ca/vaping where you will find  up-to-date research, and printable material you can use at home.