Understanding Youth Vaping and Nicotine Addiction: What Every Parent Should Know

Vaping and Teens

First, the good news: Far fewer people smoke cigarettes these days than used to. The number of adults who smoke fell from almost 43% in the 1960s to 11.6% in 2022. The even better news is that youth smoke even less. Smoking rates in youth fell from 36.4% in 1997 to 3.8% in 2021 (American Lung Association).

Now, the bad news: About 6% of youth in 2024 were vaping instead (FDA). While E-cigarettes are common and can be used discreetly with no nasty cigarette smell, they still have negative health effects. That means parents should be aware of the signs of vaping in their children.

Clinical therapists Dr. Kevin Skinner and Shannon Clauson have offered advice about vaping. In this article, we’ll share their insights into what vaping is, how to spot vaping in youth, and how to talk to youth about vaping.

What is Vaping and Why is it Popular Among Teens?

“Vaping” is done with e-cigarettes rather than smoking a traditional cigarette. E-cigarettes usually contain nicotine, though some e-cigarettes may contain marijuana or other substances.

E-cigarettes are sometimes called “ecigs,” “vapes,” “e-hookahs,” “vape pens,” “mods,” “tanks,” or electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) (Minnesota Health). They might also be known by brand names, like Juul.

Hitting the streets in 2007, e-cigarettes were at first seen as a safer alternative to cigarettes, or as a way to help quit smoking. Since then the types of e-cigarettes have grown. They often include kid-friendly flavors like cherry or bubblegum, and they also have harmful substances like nicotine and propylene glycol (National Institutes of Health, 2017).

Why do teenagers vape? 

There are many reasons teens may choose to vape:

  • Advertising
  • Enticing flavors
  • Peer pressure/Image
  • Lower cost
  • Nicotine addiction (Centers for Disease Control, 2024)

It’s easy to hide evidence of vaping. Some manufacturers intentionally make e-cigarettes easy to hide. They sell e-cigarettes disguised as everyday items such as pens, watches, or even items of clothing (Schimelpfening, 2020).

Online forums on Reddit and other sites offer readers tips on how to vape without being caught. The popularity of vaping comes with a price: A serious health risk.

Dangers of Vaping for Teens

E-cigarettes are not a safe alternative to cigarettes, and nicotine addiction is a serious risk. 

Nicotine addiction can be especially bad for developing brains, specifically children and teens. Nicotine damages the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, moods, and more, and that can lead to long-term problems (Centers for Disease Control, 2024).

Vaping increases feelings like anxiety and tension. It also increases the risk of depression. It may even hurt children’s school performance, say Skinner and Clauson.

Along with brain impact, vaping is also bad for lungs – especially growing lungs. E-cigarettes contain heavy metals like nickel, tin, lead, and cancer-causing chemicals. These chemicals and metal particles can be inhaled deep into the lungs. 

“Popcorn lung” (more on this below) can be caused by chemicals in e-cigarettes. While those chemicals have been dropped by some e-cigarette makers, they remain in use by others (Smith, 2023).

What is Popcorn Lung?

Popcorn lung, or bronchiolitis obliterans, is a lung condition where small airways in the lungs become inflamed and scarred, leading to coughing, shortness of breath, and reduced oxygen flow. It’s often linked to inhaling harmful chemicals, such as those found in some e-cigarette vapors.

Certain symptoms are common to popcorn lung, though people may not show symptoms right away. Symptoms can include:

  • Coughing, especially before and after exercise
  • Shortness of breath
  • Wheezing
  • Tiredness
  • Fever
  • Night Sweats
  • And skin rash (Cleveland Clinic, 2022)

Signs Your Teen May Be Vaping

How’s a parent supposed to know if their child is vaping? The University of Nebraska Medical Center shares some signs parents can watch for. 

Signs of vaping addiction:

  • A sweet smell in the air. While technically banned, teens may still be able to get flavored e-cigarette “juice,” which produces sweet smells. Some of those older vape pods may still be in circulation.
  • Unfamiliar pens and USB drives. Many e-cigarettes may look like ink pens or USB flash drives, or some weird electronic device. People can tell they’re vape pens because they have holes on each end. 
  • Physical symptoms. E-cigarette use can cause some physical symptoms. They can be frequent nosebleeds, a smoker’s cough, drinking lots more water, or mouth sores that don’t heal. E-cigarette vapors can also hurt the immune system. 
  • Devices. Things like cotton balls, metallic oils, pods, or atomizers in their trash or belongings may be signs they’re vaping (Nebraska Medical Center, 2022).

How to Talk to Your Child About Vaping

Parents should talk to their children about the dangers of vaping, Clauson says. Forget about the myths that vaping isn’t harmful. A lot of children think vaping is just water. The first step in helping a child quit vaping – or never start – is education. 

Open, non-judgmental conversations with youth can build trust and encourage honesty. Staying calm and listening closely is key. Look for a natural opening for conversation (like if you just drove by a vape store, or if you see someone on the street vaping). Don’t make it a lecture – make it a conversation, Clauson adds. 

Proactive parenting, communication, and a supportive environment are important here. With those tools and understanding, you can raise happy, healthy, vape-free kids.

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