2. Our New
Problem
Did you know that 1 in 5 high school students uses
e-cigarettes? Nationally, 3.6 million middle and high
school students use these products, which means that
even if your child is not using e-cigarettes, they almost
certainly have friends who are. Rates of youth e-cigarette
use more than doubled between 2017 and 2019, to the
point that the U.S. Surgeon General declared the
problem an “epidemic.”
3. Teen Vaping in Mental Health
Vaping and mental health are closely intertwined.
The young adult brain is in a regular state of
evolution, with many of its core structures not
reaching full maturity until an individual’s early- to
mid-twenties. That makes vaping in teens especially
problematic, due to the effects of nicotine and other
harmful substances found in vapes on the
developing brain.
The nicotine in vaping devices puts teenagers at
risk for a range of long-term effects, including mood
disorders, reduced impulse control, and addiction. It
can also exacerbate the symptoms and behaviors
of depression, anxiety, and hyperactivity.
4. How do teens get
addicted?
The CDC’s 2016 National Youth Tobacco Survey found
that, among students who vaped in 2016, 39% did so
because a friend or family member also did, 31% were
drawn to the availability of “fun” flavors like candy and
chocolate, and 17.1% believed e-cigarettes to be less
harmful than traditional cigarettes.
The teenage vaping epidemic is part peer pressure,
part sneaky marketing, and part “teens being teens.”
Meanwhile, the mental health consequences are very
real, which leads us to our next section: what you can
do about it.
5. The earlier the teen stops vaping, the
better! Parents need to take action and
focus more on their children's lifestyle,
behavior, and friends.
1. Take accountability, and let others
know. Set a quit date and allow the
ones you told to help.
2. Be aware of withdrawal. Understand
that it will be hard to defeat. Side
effects of headaches, trouble sleeping,
and mood swings will come.
Prevention and Quitting
6. Key Takeaways
Vaping is a growing epidemic here in the United States and it needs to be stop.
● 1 in 5 high school students vape consistently
● Vaping can cause serious health problems, especially in adolescents
● Vaping can be prevented if taken seriously
● It is possible to quit vaping if you follow the guidelines
7. Works Cited
“What Parents Need to Know.” Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, 30 Apr. 2021,
https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/protectkids/resources-for-parents/what-parents-need-to-know.
Blog, rtblogadmin in, and Rtblogadmin. “How Does Vaping Affect Teens, Vaping and Mental Health.” Retreat Behavioral Health
Content Hub, 7 Oct. 2020, https://www.retreatbehavioralhealth.com/blog/how-does-vaping-affect-teens/.
