
What should I do if I caught my kid vaping?
I Caught My Kid Vaping. What Should I Do Now? How a parent reacts when they discover their child is vaping can have a huge negative or positive impact on what happens next. Getty Images Experts advise parents who discover their teen is vaping to react in a calm and measured manner. Ask questions and listen to the answers they give.
How should parents react when they discover their teen is vaping?
How a parent reacts when they discover their child is vaping can have a huge negative or positive impact on what happens next. Getty Images Experts advise parents who discover their teen is vaping to react in a calm and measured manner.
How do you know if it’s a vaping device?
If you come across an unusual looking pen or USB drive, often with holes on each end, chances are it’s a vaping device and not a typical pen or USB drive. Some e-cig users suddenly find themselves developing sensitivity to caffeine.
Should I Call my Child's pediatrician to talk about vaping?
I called my son’s pediatrician in advance of an appointment to discuss my son’s vaping and marijuana use. The call was routine for our pediatrician, as he regularly speaks to parents in the same predicament. Many parents find Juuls and other things they’re not expecting. Our doctor spoke with my son in my presence and then independently.

What do you do if you find a vape in your kids room?
If your child is caught vaping or admits to vaping, try to stay calm and non-judgmental. Listen, don't lecture. Try to understand their feelings. Avoid showing judgment.
What do you do if you find vape in your teens room?
How to punish your teenStep 1: Always offer a safe space for dialogue. ... Step 2: Give honest information without exaggerating the facts. ... Step 3: Explain why nicotine addiction is dangerous. ... Step 4: Explain the consequences. ... Step 5: Dole out appropriate penalties. ... Step 1: Get them help if needed.More items...•
How can I tell if my son is vaping in his room?
Vaping dries out mucus membranes - the mouth, throat and nose. When the mouth is dry, it makes certain flavors harder to enjoy. Craving more salt or spice could be a sign of a drier mouth, which could be caused from vaping. That in combination with having nosebleeds from a drier nose can also be a clue into vaping.
Where is my kid hiding their vape?
0:312:55Could your kids be hiding vaping devices in plain sight? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipProducts so that it's inconspicuous. One glance around your kids roof. And you might completely missMoreProducts so that it's inconspicuous. One glance around your kids roof. And you might completely miss it a vaping device put your lips right here hidden in plain sight.
Should I punish my kid for vaping?
You want to encourage their amends and correction via discipline, not punishment. These six steps can help diminish the ability of this nationwide vaping epidemic to negatively impact your child's health and well-being.
What happens if a 12 year old vapes?
Nicotine can harm the developing adolescent brain. The brain keeps developing until about age 25. Using nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control.
How long does vape smell last in Room?
Even in a poorly ventilated area with windows shut, any smells from vaping should be gone in only ten minutes or so, instead of lasting around for hours like smoking. When one is vaping outdoors in comparison, the smell from your vape will hardly be noticeable at all and will disappear extremely quickly.
Does vaping leave a smell in a room?
There's no escaping the vaping effect Over time, indoor smoking can create odors and leave residue on surfaces. The same is true of vaping indoors. Secondhand aerosol from e-cigarettes and other vaping devices can contain nicotine and low levels of toxins known to cause cancer.
What are 5 signs that someone is vaping?
There are several telltale signs to watch for.Finding unusual or unfamiliar items. Vaping devices usually come with detachable parts. ... Behavioral changes, mood swings, agitation. ... Shortness of breath. ... Poor performance. ... Sweet fragrances. ... Weight loss. ... Nausea, vomiting. ... Mouth sores, abnormal coughing, throat-clearing.More items...•
Should parents search their child's room?
As a result of a recent decision handed down by the California Courts of Appeal, 1st District, police can legally search a minor's room without their consent as long as the minor's parents authorize the search.
How can I hide my vape smell?
You can simply put out a few saucers of vinegar when you're smoking or vaping to serve as an odor eliminator.
How do schools detect vape?
Vape detectors, like the HALO Smart Sensor, accurately monitor the quality of air and detect dangerous vaping chemicals when present in school bathrooms and send notification alerts to assigned faculty members. They are an effective and affordable solution, and their visible presence acts as a deterrent.
How to react when a parent discovers their child is vaping?
Getty Images. Experts advise parents who discover their teen is vaping to react in a calm and measured manner. Ask questions and listen to the answers they give.
How many high school seniors have vaped?
In December 2018, the National Institute on Drug Abuse released a report detailing a “dramatic increase” in the use of vaping devices by teenagers, stating that 37.3 percent of high school seniors had vaped within the previous year.
What to do if your teenager is addicted to nicotine?
If your teenager has a nicotine addiction, your first step should be consulting with their pediatrician or your family doctor. They can help you determine how serious the addiction is and what options might be available for helping your teenager quit.
Is vaping good for teens?
Boasting fruity flavors combined with convenient and often easy to hide devices, the vaping industry appears to have reached a successful target market in teenagers. And while cigarette use among teens had previously been on the decline, vaping has once again increased teen’s interest in, and use of, nicotine products.
What age can you vape at?
Naturally, your parents are worried that you’re breaking law if you are under the age of 21. If you are caught vaping by law enforcement, you or your family would face fines or penalties based on the state where you live and that is the last thing you want to happen.
What is the legal age to buy e-cigarettes?
In December 2019, the federal minimum legal age to buy e-cigarettes and other tobacco products was raised from 18 to 21 in all states. It’s illegal for stores to sell vaping devices, e-liquid, or vape pods to people under age 21. Naturally, your parents are worried that you’re breaking law if you are under the age of 21.
How many people died from vaping in 2019?
Your parents are thinking about your risks for lung disease. In 2019 the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention linked vaping to 1,479 cases of a mysterious lung disease that killed at least 33 people.
What is the e-cigarette industry?
The e-cigarette industry targets most of their advertising towards young people. One well-known e-cigarette company has advertised its products on popular youth media such as Nickelodeon, the Cartoon Network, Seventeen magazine, as well as on educational sites for middle school and high school students.
Why do parents tell teens to stay away from their friends?
If you do go ahead with the ‘all my friends’ defense, they’ll most likely tell you to stay away from them because of their bad influence. Parents know all about how teens need to “fit in”. In fact, you don’t even have to be a parent to know this because we have all been at that stage at one point or another.
Is vaping a hot topic?
Vaping is a hot topic in the news these days amongst researchers, scientists, educators, and politicians. The rise of teen vaping has been expediential is usually done secretly and often with products disguised as watches, pens, or other household objects so they are not caught by their parents. The day will come though when your mom cleans your ...
Is vaping dangerous?
You may even read the reports claiming that vaping isn’t dangerous if you stick to the flavored kind. This often might not be true because marketers will say and do whatever they need to sell their products and will often pay for research that will back up their claims.
Do parents have to be shocked when they see their child juuling?
At some level, parents of adolescents are not entirely shocked when they see signs their child is Juuling, or find evidence of their child experimenting with smoking or drinking. That said, of course we were naturally deeply disappointed that the lessons we have imparted seem so quickly erased by an increasingly independent young adult. One who is curious, and along with his peers, feels immune to the consequences of smoking and other substance habits.
Is vaping safer than smoking?
In one of our conversations, our son told us, “It’s not that bad. Vaping is safer than smoking,” and “Pot is legal in many states.”. We desperately cited that “safer than” does not mean “safe” and anything you take into your lungs by heat or combustion has carcinogenic qualities. These arguments fell on deaf ears.
Why do teens think vapes are vapor?
Marketing companies want teens to think it’s vapor because inhaling aerosol sounds too dangerous.
What is vaping in a vape?
Marelene tells us that vaping is defined as “smoking on an electronic delivery system.” Every vape contains a liquid, a battery to heat the liquid, and an absorbent material to hold the heated liquid vapor. The user inhales on the mouthpiece and exhales a vapor or, more accurately an aerosol. Marketing companies want teens to think it’s vapor because inhaling aerosol sounds too dangerous.
How do you know if your child is vaping?
The vapors disrupt the immune system which can have harsh effects on human cells. Keep your eye on your child if they complain of sores in their mouth or begin to show signs of an unexplained cough. It could be a sign that your child is vaping.
How long does a vape pen battery last?
While some vape pens can be charged with a simple USB cable, most require batteries. And, since an e-cig vape pen battery typically only lasts two hours with constant use, the battery needs to be charged regularly. If you find an unfamiliar battery or battery charging device, this could serve as another red flag that your child may be vaping.
What are the most common e-cigarettes for teens?
E-cigs come in many forms. They can resemble traditional tobacco cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. However, the most common e-cigs among teens are JUULs – sleek devices that resemble a USB flash drive – and vape pens that resemble traditional pens.
What is an atomizer in an e-cigarette?
The atomizer is an important part of any e-cig. It’s the component of the e-cig that turns the e-liquid into vapor. The atomizers don’t last forever and eventually need to be discarded. If you come across a discarded atomizer in your child’s room, it can be a good indication that your child has been vaping.
What causes dry mouth when vaping?
Dehydration , often described by vapers as dry or cotton mouth, is actually a fairly common side effect of vaping. Propylene Glycol, one of the ingredients in e-liquid, is the primary cause of the dehydration. The substance has been shown to absorb and hold in water molecules, preventing them from being absorbed into the body. Therefore, if you notice your teen drinking more than they typically do or you happen to notice other signs of dehydration such as dark circles under their eyes, you may want to dive a little deeper to determine the cause.
How many high school students use e-cigarettes?
According to the Center’s for Disease Control and Prevention’s annual National Tobacco Survey, 27.5 percent of high school students reported using an e-cigarette within the last 30 days, up from 20.8 percent in 2018. Originally designed to help people quit smoking cigarettes, e-cigs have turned into a national infatuation among teens ...
What is e-liquid flavored?
Although the vapor produced by e-cigarettes can be either odorless or scented, given the choice, most teenagers will choose the scented (or flavored) vapor. The e-liquid, also known as e-juice, available on the market for e-cigarettes comes in a variety of enticing flavors such as Gummi Bear, Berry Lush, Frozen Lime Drop, and Watermelon Wave that all too many teens are eager to try. If you notice a sweet scent that is unexplainable, it might require further investigation on your part.

What Your Parents Are Thinking
The Law
- Are you old enough to be smoking or vaping? In December 2019, the federal minimum legal age to buy e-cigarettesand other tobacco products was raised from 18 to 21 in all states. It’s illegal for stores to sell vaping devices, e-liquid, or vape pods to people under age 21. Naturally, your parents are worried that you’re breaking law if you are under...
Health & Addiction
- There’s no doubt that nicotine is an addictive substance and can have serious health consequences. Vaping pens can be modified to use tobacco, liquid nicotine, or marijuana – all addictive substances. Addiction is very sneaky and you may think that you can stop vaping any time you choose but it won’t be as easy as throwing out your vape pen. These urges come back …
A Question of Trust
- Your parents may feel that you have betrayed their trust by using the e-cigarettes “behind their backs.” They know that as a teenager, you’re often faced with hard decisions and they want to be confident that you’ll make smart choices based on the values they’ve taught you. When they see behavior that doesn’t match up, they can feel that they’ve somehow failed you. Your parents ma…
What’s in Your Vape Pen?
- Maybe you’ll tell your folks that you don’t use nicotine so that makes it safer. You should know that research is still ongoing and it’s really too early to tell the long-term impacts of e-cigarettes, with or without nicotine. The vape flavorings that sound so yummy to eat become harmful when they are vaporized and inhaled. Many teens also believe that vaping is better than smoking cigar…
Are All Your Friends Vaping?
- Whatever you say, please don’t tell your mom and dad that all your friends are vaping. It won’t matter to them that 3.6 million middle and high school students are using e-cigarettes. If you do go ahead with the ‘all my friends’ defense, they’ll most likely tell you to stay away from them because of their bad influence. Parents know all about how teens need to “fit in”. In fact, you don…
Targeting Children & Teens
- The e-cigarette industry targets most of its advertising toward young people. One well-known e-cigarette company has advertised its products on popular youth media such as Nickelodeon, the Cartoon Network, and Seventeen magazine, as well as on educational sites for middle school and high school students. Maybe you’re an independent thinker and you wanted to vape to feel what …
Final Thoughts
- It can be hard to have open discussions on difficult topics with your parents. There will be a time when you don’t know what to say when your parents find your vape. You will become nervous and scared from the reaction they might give. If you are also under 18, your parents might start restricting your freedom. Share your thoughts about vaping and the reasons you decided to use …