how do I know if my teen is vaping?

in this article:

• 9 signs that your teen might be vaping
• What are the risks associated with vaping?
• What can I do if I find out my teen is vaping?

A recent study released by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 2.55 million U.S. middle and high school students reported use of an e-cigarette in the past 30 days.

As e-cigarette companies continue to expand on their flavored products and disposable devices, how do we as parents make sure our teens aren’t becoming hooked on this dangerous habit? We asked teen vaping expert and respiratory therapist, Katy Oppy to help us identify signs of vaping in teens.

9 signs that your teen might be vaping

It might be tricky to catch your teen vaping. The vapor dissolves quickly and leaves no residue. Here are some signs to help you identify if your teen is vaping:

• Increased thirst - Vaping removes hydration from the skin of the mouth and throat, leaving a dry palate. Naturally the body will crave liquid to prevent dehydration. If your teen is drinking (and peeing) more, they may be vaping.
• Desire for flavor – When your mouth is dried out, food can become less flavorful. If your teen is reaching for the salt or enjoying unusually spicy food, this may be a clue.
• Nosebleeds – Not only does vaping dry out the mouth, but it can also dry out the skin of the nose. When the nose gets dry, it can bleed.
• Acne – Vaping can affect the surrounding skin. If your teen is having bad breakouts on otherwise clear skin, this could be a clue.
• Lung issues – There are tiny particles present in e-cigarette vapor that can cause inflammation in the lungs. When lungs are inflamed, it can lead to bacterial infections and potentially pneumonia.
• Increased anxiety or mood swings – Vaping plus caffeine intake can cause increased anxiety and mood swings.
• Not wanting to be home/increased sneakiness – It’s less likely your teen will get caught vaping if they are not doing it at home or are able to hide their actions from you
• Asking for/spending lots of money – Like most addictive habits, the cost of vaping can add up.
• Leaves unfamiliar items laying around like USB drives, battery chargers and spare parts around the house.

what are the risks associated with vaping?

There are many health and social risks to teens vaping.

Health risks include:

• Damage to the lungs from e-cigarette aerosols.
• Poisoning from ingesting the liquid or absorbing it through the skin from e-cigarettes.
• Fire hazard due to defective e-cigarette batteries.
• Becoming addicted to nicotine which can lead to other drug use, mental health issues, increased stress and anxiety.
• Loss of flavor perception, also known as vapor tongue.

Social risks include:

• As stated in the State of Ohio – Tobacco 21 legislation, it is illegal to give, sell, or otherwise distribute cigarettes, other tobacco products or alternative nicotine products like e-cigarette/vaping products to any person under the age of 21.
• The Ohio High School Athletic Association does not permit the use of any form of tobacco. For more information, you can refer to your child’s school’s policies on tobacco usage and participation in activities.

what can I do if I find out my teen is vaping?

Dayton Children’s provides teen nicotine cessation programming through the STAND program to “stop tobacco and nicotine dependency.” The STAND program at Dayton Children’s is the only adolescent specific program in the region. It was developed by our respiratory therapy team members through the adaptation of the American Lung Association’s adult program and the Teen Tobacco Use Prevention and Treatment Guidelines.

The teen STAND program at Dayton Children’s consists of five 60-minute sessions, one session a week for five weeks. The following topics are discussed using videos, visual aids, monitoring devices and role playing:

• Goal setting
• Problem solving
• Stress reduction
• The effects of tobacco and nicotine use (including vaping), second-hand smoke and advertising
• Setting a quit day, symptoms of recovery and nicotine replacement

Learn more about the program and register for our next session.