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Parents-hero

We can help teens quit vaping

A guide to help parents understand vaping, the issues & the health risks that surround it, identify the signs of vaping in loved ones, and the best way to quit vaping for adults or teens.

Vaping client rating 4.9 | 798 reviews

Teenagers are vaping in growing numbers. In fact in 2023, Dr Mike McKean, vice-president of policy for the Royal College of Paediatricians and Child Health, said vaping was becoming an “epidemic” in the UK among teenagers even though it is illegal before the age of 18.

The US Surgeon General declared a vaping epidemic amongst youngsters as long ago as 2018!
How the government, health department, and health policymakers have allowed vaping to get such a grip on our youth is frightening.

In fact 40% of teenagers aged 18 have vaped up from 30% in 2021. The situation gets worse as a young teen grows into young adulthood.

This page will answer, amongst other things, how do you tell if your teen is vaping? Vaping is safe isn’t it? How to help teen to quit vaping

Why is vaping so popular amongst teenagers? Some statistics & facts

E-cigarettes have been on sale for over 10 years but in recent years there has been a rapid increase in adolescents vaping.

two teens vaping learn about teen vaping and statistics play_circle_outline

What are teens vaping?

Part of the reason for the growth in teen vaping is that vaping liquid, known as vaping juice comes in many flavours.

The most popular flavours for adolescents & young adults is different in UK & US.

Other reasons for the surge in teen vaping is the lack of regulation (unforgivable given nicotine is a highly addictive drug) and because the vape industry have mercilessly targeted youngsters in their marketing and advertising (and been allowed to do so for over 10 years).

vaping devices

Why do teens vape (use e-cigarettes)?

The reason many US adolescents start vaping is because of the flavours of which there are now an estimated 16,000 available.

Many US teens also report that due to the widespread advertising they are curious about the products and want to try them.

Vapes lost mary

Should I let my teen vape? What you need to know.

E-cigarettes are illegal to be sold to under 18s but they can be ordered online so for a youngster with access to your credit card they are readily available as are the vaping liquids or juices.

Sadly, there are many retail outlets that sell to teens in spite of the law and a thriving black market amongst teens in classrooms across the country.

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What are the side effects of vaping?

Vaping is probably safer than smoking but it isn’t safe.

Read about the physical and mental health issues it can cause as well as what is in vape juice.

How to stop your teen from starting to vape (use e-cigarettes)

The single biggest factor appears to be to raise children in a smoke and vape free home.

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Is my teen vaping? – How to tell if your teen is vaping (using e-cigarettes)?

A 2020 study found that only 40% of parents or guardians were aware that their child was vaping compared with 70% for smoking.

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How to talk to your teen about vaping risks and help them to quit vaping

Read some simple tips to help your teen to quit but the best way is to use Allen Carr’s Easyway for teens to quit vaping

teen vaping

A few client videos

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Justyna, US

Vaping

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Emma, US

Smoking

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Rebeliza, Ireland

Vaping

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Lex Wright 2, US

Vaping

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Side effects of vaping

Vaping is not safe. Read how it affects teens both mentally and physically.

How vaping affects you navigate_next
Resources for teens

Learn what is in vapes, how they can harm your health both physical and mental, how to deal with friends who vape and much more

More info for teens navigate_next

References:

  1. Wang TW, Neff LJ, Park-Lee E, et al. E-cigarette Use Among Middle and High School Students — United States, 2020. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 2020;69. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6937e1.htm?s_cid=mm6937e1_w%20
  2. Samir S. Soneji, Kristin E. Knutzen, Andrea C. Villanti. Use of Flavored E-Cigarettes Among Adolescents, Young Adults, and Older Adults: Findings From the Population Assessment for Tobacco and Health Study. Public Health Reports, 2019; 003335491983096 DOI: 1177/0033354919830967 http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0033354919830967
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  10. ASH Use of e-cigarettes among young people in Great Britain ASH-Factsheet-Youth-E-cigarette-Use-2019 , YouthEcig2020 , , Use-of-e-cigarettes-among-young-people-in-Great-Britain-2021, Use-of-e-cigarettes-among-young-people-in-Great-Britain-2022, https://ash.org.uk/uploads/Use-of-vapes-among-young-people-GB-2023-v2.pdf
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  12. World Health Organisation Report on the Global Tobacco Epidemic 2021
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  14. NHS: Flavouring found in e-cigarettes linked to ‘popcorn lung’ https://www.nhs.uk/news/heart-and-lungs/flavouring-found-in-e-cigarettes-linked-to-popcorn-lung/
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    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749113005307
  19. Grana, R; Benowitz, N; Glantz, S. “Background Paper on E-cigarettes,” Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education, University of California, San Francisco and WHO Collaborating Center on Tobacco Control. December 2013.
  20. Goniewicz, M.L.; Knysak, J.; Gawron, M.; Kosmider, L.; Sobczak, A.; Kurek, J.; Prokopowicz, A.; Jablonska-Czapla, M.; Rosik-Dulewska, C.; Havel, C.; Jacob, P.; Benowitz, N., “Levels of selected carcinogens and toxicants in vapour from electronic cigarettes,” Tobacco Control [Epub ahead of print], March 6, 2013
  21. Williams, M.; Villarreal, A.; Bozhilov, K.; Lin, S.; Talbot, P., PLoS ONE 8(3): e57987, March 20, 2013.
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  24. Lerner, C.A.; Rutagarama, P.; Ahmad, T.; Sundar, I.K.; Elder, A.; Rahman, I., “Electronic cigarette aerosols and copper nanoparticles induce mitochondrial stress and promote DNA fragmentation in lung fibroblasts,” Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 477(4): 620-625, September 2, 2016.
  25. Guardian Newspaper https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/mar/18/uk-health-expert-raises-alarm-at-epidemic-of-vaping-among-teenagers
  26. Elf bar nicotine levels Dr. Onkar Mudhar https://vaping360.com/learn/how-much-nicotine-is-in-a-elf-bar/#:~:text=Nicotine%20in%20a%20cigarette%20compared%20to%20Elf%20Bars,-A%20recent%20Tiktok&text=Dr.,equivalent%2020%20milligrams%20of%20nicotine.%E2%80%9D
  27. United states most popular vape flavor teenagers – Statista 2022
  28. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. National Youth Tobacco Survey 2022
  29. The Unexpected Harms of Vaping https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/understanding-health-behaviors/202309/the-unexpected-harms-of-vaping
  30. Vaping and mental health: What’s the connection?https://blogs.bcm.edu/2021/05/06/vaping-and-mental-health-whats-the-connection/