How to Talk to Youth About Vaping
For parents, teachers, and anyone who mentors youth in Manitoba, the rising trend of youth vaping presents a new challenge.
While smoking rates among Canadian youth are at an all-time low, youth vaping is on the rise. Vaping products are marketed to be trendy and harmless, but the reality is that they pose serious risks, particularly for teens and young adults whose bodies and brains are still developing.
This article will guide you through understanding why youth vape, addressing the misconceptions surrounding vaping, and providing practical tips for talking to the young people in your life about it.
Why Are Youth Vaping?
To engage in a meaningful conversation about vaping, it’s essential to first understand why many young people are drawn to it. Youths tend to vape for several reasons:
Social Pressure: Fitting in with peers is a strong motivator for teens, and vaping is often seen as a popular activity among friend groups. The appealing flavours of vape products, which come in thousands of varieties like candy and fruit, naturally attract younger audiences.
Stress Relief: Youth commonly cite stress and anxiety as reasons for vaping. The 2022 Canadian Tobacco and Nicotine Survey found that 31% of youth ages 15-19 who vape do so to relieve stress.
Curiosity and Misconceptions: Many teens believe vaping is harmless, thinking it’s simply flavoured vapour. However, they often don’t realize that vape products can contain nicotine and harmful chemicals that affect both their mental and physical health.
Fast Facts About Vaping and Nicotine
Before diving into a conversation with youth, it helps to be informed of the facts. Here’s a quick overview of vaping and nicotine:
What is vaping? Vaping involves inhaling an aerosol produced by heating a liquid (commonly referred to as vape juice). This liquid typically contains nicotine, flavourings, and other chemicals. Watch this video on the mechanics of vaping for more details.
What’s in vape juice? Vape juice often contains nicotine, a highly addictive substance, along with propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin. When heated, these substances can break down into harmful, cancer-causing chemicals like formaldehyde.
Nicotine content: A single vape pod can contain as much nicotine as 20 cigarettes, making it highly addictive and especially harmful to developing brains.
Youth vaping rates in Canada: 30% of youth aged 15 to 19 years have vaped at least once, and 14% report vaping in the last 30 days.
Addressing Popular Misconceptions
One of the biggest challenges in talking to youth about vaping is combating the myths and misinformation they’ve likely encountered. Here are some common myths and how to address them:
“It’s just water vapour.” Many young people believe vaping is harmless because they think they’re inhaling water vapour. In reality, vaping devices produce aerosol, which contains chemicals like formaldehyde and heavy metals that can be harmful when inhaled.
“Vaping is safer than smoking.” While vaping may expose users to fewer harmful chemicals than traditional cigarettes, it is not safe. Vaping can harm the lungs, brain, and cardiovascular system, especially in teens.
“I won’t get addicted.” Nicotine, which is often present in vape juice, is highly addictive. Youth can become dependent on nicotine after just one or two uses, leading to long-term addiction.
The Growing Popularity of Nicotine Pouches
In addition to vaping, nicotine pouches are becoming more popular among youth. These small, teabag-like pouches are placed between the cheek and gum, gradually releasing nicotine without the need for inhaling smoke or vapour. While nicotine pouches may seem like a safer alternative to vaping, they are still highly addictive and pose risks, especially to young people.
How to Talk to Youth About Vaping
When discussing vaping with teens, it’s important to approach the conversation with empathy and understanding. Here are some tips to help you communicate effectively:
Before You Talk
Know the facts – Familiarize yourself with the basics, such as what vaping is, the chemicals involved, and the potential health risks. Understanding the facts allows you to speak confidently and accurately, answering questions your teen may have. It also shows that you’ve put thought into the discussion, which can help make it more effective. MANTRA’s Vape-Free Motivation Meter is a helpful tool to explore as you prepare.
Put yourself in their shoes – Recognize that, for many teens, vaping can be appealing due to factors like peer influence, stress, or the perception of vaping as harmless. Understanding these motivators can help you approach the conversation without judgment and with greater empathy. Try to keep an open mind about why they might be drawn to it, even if the reasons seem trivial or misinformed to you. This will create a more comfortable environment where they’ll feel safe sharing their experiences.
Find the right time and place – Conversations like these are best held in a relaxed, distraction-free setting where your teen feels comfortable. Avoid bringing up the topic during stressful moments, like in the middle of a disagreement or in a public place where they may feel embarrassed or defensive. Choose a time when you’re both calm and can focus fully on the conversation, allowing your teen to speak freely and feel that their thoughts are valued.
During Your Talk
Start by Listening
Rather than jumping into the conversation with facts and warnings, begin by asking your teen what they know about vaping. Ask open-ended questions like, “What do you think about vaping?” or “Do your friends vape?” This invites them to share their perspective without feeling judged.Avoid Scare Tactics
Teens are often turned off by exaggerated claims or scare tactics. Stick to facts and explain how vaping can affect their health in ways that matter to them. For example, vaping can reduce lung capacity, which might impact athletic performance or affect their mood and memory, which could interfere with school.Acknowledge Their Independence
Teens value their independence and decision-making abilities. Instead of making them feel like they’re being lectured, empower them by acknowledging the good decisions they already made and encouraging them to apply the same judgment to vaping.Blame Big Tobacco, Not Your Child
Help your child understand that vaping companies, many of which are owned by Big Tobacco, target youth with appealing flavours and misleading marketing. This shifts the conversation away from blaming them for being curious or tempted and helps them see vaping as part of a larger issue.Connect to Their Goals
Frame the conversation around your child’s personal goals. If they’re passionate about sports, talk about how vaping could hurt their athletic performance. If they care about their future career, explain how nicotine addiction can make it harder to concentrate and succeed in school.Offer Practical Refusal Strategies
If your teen is feeling pressure to vape from friends, help them come up with ways to say no comfortably. You can role-play different scenarios where they might be offered a vape and suggest responses like, “No thanks, I’ve heard it can mess up your lungs.”
After the Conversation: Stay Engaged
Talking about vaping is not a one-time conversation. As new vaping products and trends emerge, it’s important to keep the lines of communication open. Encourage your teen to come to you with any questions or concerns and regularly check in to see how they’re doing. You can also subscribe to MANTRA’s e-newsletter, where we share regular updates on emerging research and resources on vaping, nicotine, and tobacco.
Resources
Vape-Free Motivation Meter – An interactive online tool to help motivate youth to quit.
Mechanics of Vaping Video – Learn more about how vaping devices work.
Tip Sheet for Teachers – Advice for educators on talking to teens about vaping.
Tip Sheet for Parents – Guidance for parents on discussing vaping with their teens.