Sunrise Health - December 20, 2019

Vaping. It’s become a national epidemic, especially in teens. As a parent, if you suspect your teen is vaping, what can you do? Sunrise Children’s Hospital has answers. Start by using the two-week, school Winter Break to help your teen “Break” The Habit.

What is vaping?

  • E-cigarettes JUUL, vapes and vape pens
  • Vaping/e-cigarette products are more dangerous than cigarettes. Didyou know a JUUL pod has the nicotine equivalent of a pack ofcigarettes?
  • Wondering what ingredients can be found in vape pods? Toxins andcarcinogens (formaldehyde, proplene glycol and acrolein), which can cause irreversible lung damage
  • How prevalent is vaping among teens here in Clark County? Accordingto the CDC’s National Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System:
  • In 2017, 15.5 percent of Nevada high school students used e-cigarettes at least one day in the past 30 days prior to the survey.
  • Nevada exceeds the national average rate by over 2 percent.
  • In Clark County, 40.6 percent of high school students reported having tried electronic vapor products with 12.9 percent of students reporting 30-day use

What are the signs and symptoms of vaping?

The American Lung Association says:

  • Look for changes in your teen’s behavior
  • Watch for reducing caffeine intake
  • Frequent nosebleeds
  • Look for vape pens—they can look like markers, USB flash drives, disposable flavor pods
  • Be a good sniffer—sense any new sweet scents in their rooms or ontheir clothes

How do parents get the conversation started?

  • Parents know their teens best—talk to them about using their good judgment to resist vaping, they don’t have to let peer pressure force them to do something—tell them they’re strong and you’re proud of them
  • Ask a lot of open-ended questions, be curious, not judgmental
  • Ask if kids are vaping at their school, are their friends vaping?
  • Always ask them what they think about vaping—just listen, you know it’s not harmless and can share the information at theappropriate time in the conversation
  • Keep the conversation going

For more information

American Lung Association’s Not On Tobacco (NOT)—a voluntary quit smoking program for teens ages 14-19 years of age. Call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872).