How to talk to your teen about vaping risks and help them to quit vaping
The teenage years are often a difficult and confusing time for young people and they want to experiment and kick back against being told what to do, so stay calm.
Here are a few tips and ideas of how to approach the issue with them:
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Stay calm, don’t shame
The teenage years are often a difficult and confusing time for young people due to the expectations and changes in their bodies. So stay calm and don’t shame them if you find them vaping.
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Talk to them
The best approach is always to be calm, engage them and listen to them.
Use non-judgemental questions like “I keep hearing about vaping”. “Do you see many people doing that at school?”, “What do you think about it?”.
Also show them that you understand and empathise e.g. say “Wow, that does sound difficult”.
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Give them the facts
During the conversation try to give them the facts even if they say you are wrong!
Giving them facts from a reliable source will sink in but be prepared for them to say something like “We know that smoking is bad for you but vaping is fine and no risk”.
Many kids don’t realise that vaping juice or JUUL pods contain nicotine and that it is as much as a pack of cigarette
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Help them see they are being manipulated
Teenagers often rebel against being told what to do so play that back to them by telling them how the vaping companies are manipulating them.
It is why they add nicotine to the juice to get them addicted, so they buy more juice or JUULpods.
The advertising makes it look sexy and attractive and safe but it isn’t really. Tell them that that they did the same thing in my day for cigarettes until it was banned.
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Find the right moment to talk
This is probably the most difficult part because as you know a conversation can quickly escalate with tempers flaring.
Clearly that will not help the situation so find a moment when they are more engaged with you.
Maybe before you watch that sports match or after lunch (not before lunch when they are likely to be hangry!).
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Show trust
You can’t dictate to them or they will rebel and resent you! Instead they need to feel that you are taking them seriously and they are not being treated as a child.
Be firm regarding vaping but don’t lecture because they will not respond or listen.
Often with teens they need to hear something and then fully take it in later that day.
You may be tempted to test them with urine nicotine tests but this will not work. It will lead them to resent you and fight harder to do the thing that you are trying to help them to stop doing.
Instead you have to trust them, keep talking and show you are there for them.
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Quitting
They then need to quit. Quitting vaping can be as difficult as quitting smoking but with the right method it is easy.
It is drug free and doesn’t focus on the health issues, instead it changes how the vaper sees their addiction.
Changing their mentality so that they realise there is nothing to give up! It just takes one seminar or video. Quit vaping for teens with Allen Carr’s Easyway.
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