Parenting school aged children
Youth Vaping & Smoking
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Talk to your teens about vaping
Parents and caregivers can help prevent youth from vaping or smoking with regular, supportive conversations.
Many young people are exposed to smoking and vaping and may not know the risks. As a parent and caregiver, you can make a difference. You can help your child avoid or quit smoking and vaping by having supportive conversations and showing them healthy ways to cope with stress. This page offers information on the risks of nicotine use, helpful tips for talking with your child, and free resources for support.
Understanding the Risks of Smoking and Vaping
Nicotine is the addictive chemical found in both commercial tobacco cigarettes and vaping products. Nicotine affects brain development in youth and can affect learning, memory, and mood. Nicotine use can also lead to dependence and addiction, making it very hard to quit. Youth are more at risk of the harmful effects of nicotine than adults.
Smoking is the act of burning a tobacco product (e.g., cigarette) and breathing in and out the smoke. Tobacco smoke contains thousands of chemicals, including nicotine. Some of the chemicals are known to cause cancer. Smoking can also cause lung and heart disease.
Download Tobacco - Behind the Smoke Infographic
Vaping is the act of breathing in and out an aerosol - a mixture of chemicals. Some of the chemicals include nicotine, glycerol, propylene glycol, and flavours. The risks of breathing in these substances are not known. During the heating process, harmful heavy metals can also get into the vape aerosol.
Some heavy metals are known to cause cancer. Vaping can cause side effects such as headaches, mouth and throat irritation, cough, and nausea. The long-term effects of vaping are unknown.
Parents and caregivers can influence youth substance use attitudes and behaviours. It is important to have regular, caring conversations about substance use with your child. Try to:
- Choose a time and place with no distractions
- Ask open-ended questions
- Remain understanding and judgement-free
If your child is using nicotine products and is interested in quitting, help them find support and resources.
Helpful Resources
One reason many youth start to smoke or vape is to cope with stress. Talk to your child from a young age about their emotional health and how they cope when they feel frustrated or overwhelmed.
Youth need healthy ways to feel good. Help your child find healthy ways to feel good with activities that help the brain make dopamine, a chemical that makes us feel happy. It is also important to let your child see you practicing healthy habits too.
Some ideas of healthy activities include:
- Physical activities – playing sports, walking the dog, dancing, nature walks
- Creative activities – making art, listening to music, cooking
- Spending time with friends and family
- Talking to a trusted adult
- Quash App – an app that helps create a custom plan to quit smoking or vaping.
- CAMH Youth-VAST – virtual or in-person counselling and treatment for youth (ages 12 to 21) for vaping, substance-use and/or technology use. Youth can self-refer directly to the program.
- Alternatives for Youth – substance use and mental health services for youth (ages 12 to 25) and their families.
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