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Juuling and
Teenagers
Why Vaping is a Dangerous
Trend
One Juul pod has the nicotine equivalent of a pack of
cigarettes. If you're concerned your teen is becoming addicted, here's advice
from a parenting expert
Article by: Katie Hurley,
LCSW
E-cigarettes
are now the most popularly used tobacco product among adolescents.
Recent
data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows
that 1 in 5 high school students (3.05 million) and 1 in 20 middle school
students (570,000) use e-cigarettes, also known as vaping.
JUUL,
a popular vape device among adolescents, looks like a flash drive, making it
easy to conceal, and comes in a variety of enticing flavors like creme, fruit,
cucumber, and mango.
According
to JUUL’s website, it was originally created to be a satisfying alternative to
cigarettes.
A
banner warning appears on the site stating that their products contain nicotine
and nicotine is addictive.
In
fact, the nicotine content of one JUUL pod is the equivalent of one pack of
cigarettes.
In
November (2018), the FDA announced a series of restrictions aimed at combating
this growing public health issue that many believe has become an epidemic among
teenagers.
The
agency is on a mission to halt the illegal sales of e-cigarettes to minors and
to put an end to the “kid-friendly” marketing of these devices.
While
JUUL is stepping up efforts to prevent teen use, including restricting sales of
those coveted favors, parents and schools are still left to figure out how to
help teens showing signs of addiction.
The
Risks for Teens
There
are numerous risks of nicotine use. Research shows that nicotine affects
metabolism, increased cancer risk and respiratory problems, and more asthma
attacks and symptoms.
One
study of adolescent vape users found increased levels of significant
carcinogens in urine samples.
The
risks to the physical health of teens are important, but it’s equally important
to look at the potential for addiction.
While
the advertising surrounding vape can be misleading and cause teens to view vape
as safer than it is, one study of 12th-grade vape users found that recent vape
users were more than four times more likely to report cigarette use at a one
year follow up.
This
study adds to a growing body of evidence that vaping can actually be a gateway
to cigarette smoking among youth.
Addiction
can negatively affect the ability to focus on a task as cravings trigger
fidgeting and irritability.
Given
that the adolescent brain is still developing, it is susceptible to addiction.
Early
addiction to nicotine can cause the brain to remodel, changing the threshold
for addiction to substances. This makes teens more likely to habituate to
nicotine, drugs, and/or alcohol.
In
addition to a lack of focus or increased fidgeting, behaviors linked with
hyperactivity, nicotine addiction can also exacerbate symptoms of depression
and anxiety.
This
dangerous trend among teens affects both their physical and emotional health.
What
to Do If Your Teen Is Vaping
Given
the record numbers of both middle and high school students are vaping, it’s
important to talk early and often with young children about the risks of
e-cigarettes.
In
the event that you discover that your teen is already vaping, it’s never too
late to talk about it.
Educate
yourself first. Blanket statements about how JUUL will ruin your life won’t
work.
Adolescents
are surrounded by peer influence and creative marketing via social media and
other forms of media.
Vague
statements are no match for a group of friends singing the praises of low
nicotine and fast results.
It’s
essential for parents to learn about both the risks of vape and why it appeals
to teens.
Get
the facts about vape so that you know what you’re talking about when you start
the conversation.
Open
the door to honest communication. Establish a safe environment where your kids
can talk about their feelings about vape without fear of being judged or given
consequences.
Social
relationships are very important to growing adolescents.
If
your teen suspects that you will cut off friendships or take away all devices
upon admission of trying or thinking about trying vape, your teen will not come
forward for help.
Anxiety
Self-Assessment
Engage
your teen by asking open-ended questions about what’s happening at school and
what he or she already knows about vape.
Try
to gain an understanding of the issues that might trigger vape use in your
teen’s friend group. Are teens using it for stress relief? Do they believe it’s
harmless? Are they bored?
Make
Your Teen Aware of the Serious Health Hazards Associated with Vaping
Blurting
out the latest headlines or reminding your teen of the cancer risk within your
family might scare your teen for a moment, but it won’t likely translate to
better decision making when faced with vape out in the world.
Break
it down to the teen level to help your teenage consider the risks. How do you
think the need for nicotine might affect your ability to focus in school?
What
if you get agitated during the school day and find that you can’t listen to the
lectures? How might JUUL affect your ability on the soccer field?
Do
you think it might interfere with your ability to get enough sleep?
Engaging
in conversation helps teens consider the immediate and long-term risks and
provides the opportunity to ask questions.
What
If Your Teen is Already Addicted?
The
great irony of this vaping epidemic is that e-cigarettes were originally
developed to help adults curb their nicotine addiction by replacing cigarettes
with a safer alternative.
Unfortunately,
the nicotine contained in vape juice is every bit as addictive as the nicotine
delivered via cigarette.
One
issue teen vapers face is that medications used to curb nicotine addiction are
generally only approved for adult use.
Another
problem is that it’s difficult to measure the amount of nicotine inhaled and
absorbed through vaping.
Though
we know that one JUUL pod is the equivalent of one pack of cigarettes, it’s
significantly easier to cut back on cigarettes one at a time than to try to
track and reduce the use of vape.
Start
with your child’s doctor. It’s always a good idea to make an appointment with
your teen’s primary caregiver for a complete and physical and to discuss your
concerns about vaping and how to seek help.
Ask
for referrals to resources for teen vaping prevention/treatment in your area.
You
can also ask about the following potential options:
Consider
cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT can help patients identify triggers
that spur the behavior and teach them relapse prevention skills and effective
coping skills to work through feelings that might lead to relapse.
While
CBT is used for smoking cessation, research into the effectiveness of CBT on
vaping needs exploration.
Many
teens respond to mindfulness-based treatment. Mindfulness is another treatment
option available for smoking cessation, but not yet studied for nicotine
addiction through vape.
In
this therapy, patients attend to the thoughts that trigger cravings and reframe
them to increase tolerance. They also learn to work through negative emotions
without relapsing to nicotine use.
Group
support can be an effective format. Group support can be effective in helping
teens work through negative emotions and learn adaptive coping strategies.
Ask
your teen’s school for a list of referrals for local therapists or outpatient
counseling centers that offer group support for teens.
While
there’s no clear path to “curing” vape addiction in teens right this moment,
parents can seek help through primary care physicians and adolescent mental
health practitioners.
While
withdrawal from nicotine can be overwhelming for teens, long-term use poses
significant health hazards.
Don’t
assume this is a brief phase during the teen years. Get help right away to help
your teen make healthier choices.
Katie Hurley, LCSW is the author of No More Mean
Girls and The Happy Kid Handbook. Katie provides child and adolescent
psychotherapy, family therapy, and parent education in her private practice.
She is the founder of Girls Can! empowerment workshops for elementary and
middle school girls, and has extensive experience working with children and
adolescents with learning disabilities, anxiety and low self-esteem.
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