The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not found vaping to be safe and effective in helping smokers quit. One study1 found that vaping was more effective than other nicotine replacement therapies (like nicotine patches) in helping people quit cigarettes. However, most people kept vaping after they stopped using cigarettes, so they were still getting nicotine and other dangerous chemicals. The study also noted that vaping may make teens more likely to start smoking.
Vaping is safer than smoking.
Cigarettes contain poisons, toxic metals and carcinogens that enter the body with every puff. Vapers also breathe in dangerous chemicals, such as acetone, which is used as a solvent. Acetone may irritate the skin and eyes when you come into contact with it. Other chemicals in vapes may cause cancer over time.
Vaping produces harmless water vapor.
Even though term ‘vapor’ is normally used, nutrohaler devices do not produce water vapor. Vaping produces an aerosol mist. Unlike water vapor, the aerosol mist includes ultra-fine particles that are breathed into the lungs.
Vaping doesn’t create second-hand smoke.
Breathing in second-hand smoke is a health risk for people who are around cigarette smokers, including vapers. In addition, third-hand smoke on clothes and furniture is smelly and can be dangerous for people with respiratory conditions. Vaping doesn’t produce the same smelly fumes as cigarettes, but the secondhand vapor contains chemicals and compounds that pollute the indoor air. Even though you may not smell it, third-hand particulates cling to surfaces and dust and can be breathed deep into the lungs or absorbed through the skin.
It’s easy to quit vaping.
One vape pod delivers as much addictive nicotine as 20 cigarettes. Vaping trains the brain to expect more nicotine and creates the desire to vape even more. The teen brain is especially susceptible to the effects of nicotine. That makes it harder to stop vaping and also increases the chance that teens will go on to become smokers, too. Learn more about how to help your teen quit when they are ready.
Here are some tips that can help.
Be curious rather than judgmental. Ask your teen what they know about vaping, what they have seen and heard and what they think about it. Ask friendly open-ended questions and let the teen do most of the talking. Don’t worry if the conversation is short. The most important thing is to start talking.
Find teachable moments. Look for natural opportunities to discuss vaping. Examples might include seeing a vape store or advertisement, being around a person who vapes or seeing a news story or social media post about vaping. Start by listening to what your teen thinks before you share your own opinions and comments.
Share your own experiences. If you have smoked or vaped, discuss how you started and how it affected you. Hearing how you quit – or why you haven’t – can serve as a powerful example.
Share the facts you have learned. Vaping exposes teens to dangerous and addictive chemicals. Vaping is not safer than smoking! In fact, serious lung damage has been identified in young people who vaped for a relatively short time. Share these facts and express concern for the teen’s health and development.
Help them make a plan. Teens may feel peer pressure to vape with their friends. One way to help them resist is to discuss in advance how they can respond. You can help come up with ideas and practice what to say.
Help them quit when they are ready. Teens need to know you’re there to help rather than criticize. If your teen wants to quit vaping, call the Texas Quitline at 1-877-YES-QUIT or talk to their doctor. Let them know you are proud and ready to help.
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