What To Do When You Discover Your Child Vaping.

Staying Calm: First Steps After Finding Your Child Vapes 

Finding out that your teen or young child has been vaping is always going to be a shock and provoke some strong emotions in a parent.  Reacting with anger and frustration though may only make the problem worse or put distance between you - the opposite of what you need. 

Bringing up a family can be challenging and children have the ability to test you in ways other people can't. There is no shame or judgement in admitting this.

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Doing your best to have the big conversation when you are both calm and have had time to think will usually lead to a better outcome. 

Calming your emotions. 

A great phrase is, 'can we discuss this later'. So, if you catch them vaping you don't blow up, you acknowledge the situation and defer it till later while you go and lose your sh t somewhere. Having a conversation while your angry is never going to end the way you want it to. 

It's OK to be angry but don't drive your child away. 

Your child is experimenting just like you did and apart from locking them in the house there's not much you can do to stop it, but you can be there for them to discuss their decisions and help them.   Its ok to be angry and get the emotion out but don't inflame the situation. 

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How to talk to your child about vaping. 

During a private moment, open the conversation - but instead of lecturing ask them why? 

Ask them open questions and ask them how they feel about it now? 

If they choose honesty, and to reveal the real reasons why you are much better equipped to tell them why you are concerned. 

Use some of the facts in this CosyChats blog to teach but not terrify them. 

If it was curiosity, then the talk might be enough to make it only that once. 

Wanting to fit in then you can encourage them to be independent, think of the consequences and maybe consider who their friends are. 

If they are vaping to cope with their mental health or from stress - this is your chance to help. 

And finally, if they are now sadly maintaining an addiction, there are also things you can do. 

Understanding Vaping use in teenagers. 

Support for parents of Teenagers  About 20 percent, or 1 in 5, of 11–17-year-olds have tried vaping, with 7 percent continuing to vape occasionally and 4 percent vaping at least once a week.

Fifteen million teenagers vape worldwide according to a recent study.  With statistics like these if your child hasn’t tried vaping then it's highly likely they know someone that does. 

Read Great Blog: Is Phone Addiction Ruining Your family Bonding 

This CosyChats blog will explore the reasons behind teens trying vaping, the health and legal consequences - then hopefully we can explore together the best way forward. 

Why Teenagers Vape: Curiosity, Stress, and Social Pressure 

Understanding the reasons for vaping. 

It's easy as a worried parent to jump to conclusions if you find out your child is vaping. Maybe you will recall your own teenage years and the overwhelming pressure to fit in, but the reality is there are many reasons it might happen. 

Teens vape because they’re curious 

When our children are young, everything seems brand new and exciting.  Things that they discover that feel adventurous or especially rebellious may be just too tempting to resist. This is especially true when things like vaping are deliberately marketed as exciting to make them feel more grown up.  Support for parents of teenagers. Educating teenagers about the hidden health dangers of vaping may deter them from vaping, but for some children unfortunately curiosity may still win. 

Teens and young people enjoy the flavours 

There is a reason there are many ‘appealing’ flavours of vapes.  If part of the reason that adults prefer vaping is that it is much more pleasant than traditional cigarettes then children and adolescents could see them almost like sweets.  Just like drinking the types of alcohol that feel more like drinking soft drinks, it's easy to overlook that your children may do it because they enjoy it. 

Teens vape to relieve stress and ease mental health issues 

Current statistics show that one in five young people aged 8-25 have a probable mental health condition.  With waits for NHS help running to months and years then some young people may choose to self-medicate with tobacco products, such as vaping.  Bringing up teenagers can be challenging. Its easy to lose connection and not communicate.  Teenage years are difficult and emotions can fly. Share our experience and how we can help you.  This generation may also choose to vape as a way of coping with the sheer amount of academic, financial, online and social stress they are under. 

Teens are unaware of the risks 

In a 2021 survey of 11–18-year-olds, 19.3 percent of those surveyed had no idea what the health effects of vaping were. Of course, some of them may not be focussed on this.  Because there is a lot of focus on vaping being somewhat safer than smoking, a lot of teens may think they have no, or only minor negative effects. 

Teens are influenced by social media want to fit in with friends 

As long as there have been teenagers they have wanted to fit in, to do the things that make them popular. Everything from haircuts to clothing, music to smartphones has the ability to fit in or to be the outsider.  Rebellious things like drinking or vaping have an extra appeal to teens in that they feel the excitement of independence and being more of an adult - on top of feeling they are in the popular group. Vape companies are cashing in on this by marketing and promoting online, 

Teens become addicted to nicotine quickly. 

In younger minds, addiction to nicotine can begin in weeks or even days  As vaping delivers strong hit of nicotine, hidden behind pleasant flavours - it's easy to quickly develop a habit, and younger minds are more susceptible to nicotine addiction.  If your child is using vaping to help cope with stress or to medicate their own mental health issues, they may also become emotionally as well as physically addicted. 

The Truth about Vaping every Teenager should know 

Electronic cigarettes were invented in 2003 by a Chinese pharmacist after he lost his dad to smoking normal cigarettes and now, they are a global market worth more than £18 billion pounds. 

While it is true that traditional cigarettes have thousands more cancer-causing chemicals such as tar, carbon monoxide and cyanide - this does not mean vaping is risk free,  Its risks for heart and lung disease are also lower, but it is definitely not zero-risk.  Vapers should also be aware that the long-term effects of e-cigarettes are not that well understood as they have not been around anywhere as long as traditional smoking, 

As parents, one of the best tools we have in protecting our children from becoming addicted to vaping is encouraging them never to start in the first place, especially as you can become addicted in just days.  Here are a few of the reasons you might use to educate your children: 

Nicotine addiction 

If there is one main reason that people continue smoking its nicotine,  As a drug it is more addictive than many substances that are classed as illegal.  Vaping is also higher risk for developing an addiction because it delivers hundreds of convenient, quick doses of nicotine without the strong taste of burnt tobacco.  On top of this people aged under 25 are extra susceptible to nicotine because of their developing brains.  Becoming addicted will mean being dependent on an unhealthy product over months and years, having to regularly find the opportunities to smoke, and committing to pay the extra money that it costs each month. 

Brain development effects 

A young person's brain is not the same as their parents.  As well as the fact that it is still developing, their brain chemistry is different.  The first danger is that this makes it more likely that they become addicted to vaping and if they do it causes changes in the brain - some of which are irreversible,  Nicotine exposure in teenagers may interfere with parts of the brain involved in attention, memory, learning, mood and impulse control. Damage like this, especially during their education can only be a negative, now and in later life. 

Respiratory and lung effects 

Although vaping is safer than smoking because it doesn’t rely on burning tobacco to release the nicotine, tar and thousands of other chemicals - it is still known to damage the lungs  It irritates airways, causing coughing, shortness of breath and sore throats.  Vapers also might still inhale chemicals such as lead, nickel, formaldehyde and chromium. The long-term effects and damage are not yet really known. 

Cardiovascular effects 

Inhaling nicotine raises heart rate, as well as blood pressure and there is also concern that some of the many chemicals in vapes damage blood vessels. Like many things with vaping, the long-term effects are not yet known. 

Other side effects 

On top of the serious and long-term health effects of vaping it can also cause headaches, nausea, dizziness, sore throats, dry mouths and dental problems.  For people vaping to self-medicate stress and mental health problems, it can actually increase irritability, anxiety and trouble concentrating. 

Getting your Child through Vaping Withdrawal Symptoms 

Physical addiction, not just vaping from habit can start in as short a time of a few days to a few weeks. This is mostly due to the sheer potency of nicotine.  Helping our children to stop vaping will probably mean going through some or all of the symptoms listed here. The challenge here is to comfort them through the discomfort but even more so - to stop the temptation of vaping to find some relief.  These symptoms usually peak within the first 3 days and gradually ease over 2–4 weeks, though cravings may linger longer as your child’s brain adjusts from not having the drug of nicotine. 

Physical Symptoms: 

Headaches 

Fatigue or low energy 

Increased appetite and weight gain 

Trouble sleeping / vivid dreams 

Coughing / dry throat (lungs starting to clear) 

Restlessness or shakiness 

Psychological Symptoms: 

Irritability or mood swings 

Anxiety or nervousness 

Depressed mood or sadness 

Difficulty concentrating 

Strong cravings for nicotine 

Getting through these symptoms is not trivial so applying some techniques to help is a great idea. It is also often a good idea to speak to your GP.  Distraction and waiting out the symptoms are a great way to ride out nicotine cravings. By chewing gum, walking or drinking some water it can take your mind off the feeling, but even if you can just be patient they will also pass.  If there are triggers such as people, places or situations that increase the desire for vaping then try to avoid them and form new routines. New habits such as light exercise, drinking tea, stress balls or deep breathing can reduce stress and are also good distractions.  Journaling can be a good way to track your progress and to vent any frustrations.  Ultimately, it will be down to your child to conquer their addiction - you can’t be there all the time. They can do it, however, with your support. Plan some goals together and discuss their progress regularly.  Vaping Addiction Timeline Overview 

The effects of quitting vaping 

0–72 hours 
Cravings peak, irritability, sleep trouble 
1 week 
Cravings still strong, but starting to fade 
2–4 weeks 
Mood and energy improve, fewer cravings 
1–3 months 
Most symptoms gone, lungs healing 
6+ months 
Cravings rare, mental clarity returns 

Conclusion 

As a parent, finding out that your child vapes is always an unwelcome surprise.  Unfortunately, you will find that you are not alone as a parent with this problem.  With vapes marketed with appealing sweet flavours, teens under increasing stress and online peer pressure -it is a growing problem.  The UK government has started taking steps by restricting disposable vapes but the stricter rules on marketing and even an eventual rolling ban on people born after January 2009 from smoking at all.  Stopping your child from vaping has to be about care not control.  By building trust, respect and ongoing open conversations you can steer them away from vaping and on to build healthier habits.  This, however, will not happen overnight and will require patience and the possible help of a medical professional. If you feel you need support with this problem or any other issue, please feel free to contact CosyChats. 

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Thank you for reading the blog (My Child Has Started Vaping What Should I Do?). Children and teenagers can be challenging but you are not alone.