TALKING WITH 

YOUR TEEN 

ABOUT VAPING:

Keeping Your Kids Safe TAKE ACTION

Use these tips to talk with your teen:

• Check in frequently to see how they

are doing;

• Choose informal times to talk, such as

in the car, during dinner, or while

watching TV;

• Be clear and consistent about your

expectations regarding vaping and other

substance use;

• Establish family agreements together for

social and extracurricular activities;

• Let them know you care and are always

there for them; and

• Continue talking with your teens as they

get older.

Help your teen create an “exit plan” in 

case	he	or	she	is	offered	an	e-cigarette	or	

faced	with	a	difficult	decision	about	vaping	

(such as texting a code word to a family 

member). Peer pressure can be powerful, 

so coming up with realistic action steps 

and practicing them together in a safe 

environment will prepare and empower your 

teen to make good choices when it matters.

Research suggests that one of the most 

influential	factors	when	a	teen	is	growing	

up is a strong, open relationship with a 

parent or caregiver.

For more information about how to talk 

with your teen about vaping, visit 

www.underagedrinking.samhsa.gov

and 

www.samhsa.gov.

www.underagedrinking.samhsa.gov

#TalkTheyHearYou

PEP20-03-01-080
It’s never too late to start talking with your teen 

about the risks of vaping. As teens age, they 

make more decisions on their own and face 

greater temptation and peer pressure. Though 

it may not seem like it, teens really do hear your 

concerns. It’s important you help them understand 

what	e-cigarettes	and	other	vaping	products	are,	

and why they shouldn’t use them.

WHAT IS VAPING?

The term vaping refers to the action or practice of 

inhaling and exhaling the vapor produced by an 

electronic cigarette or similar device. While teens 

may	inhale	several	different	substances	through	

electronic cigarettes, some of the most common 

are	marijuana	and	flavored	liquid	with	nicotine.	

Vaping is becoming increasingly popular among 

teens	and	young	adults.	In	2018,	37	percent	

of	12th	graders	reported	vaping—a	9	percent	

increase	from	2017.	This	is	why	it’s	important	

to talk with your teen to ensure he or she 

understands what vaping is and what the 

risks are.

WHY ARE YOUNG PEOPLE VAPING?

Teens and young adults vape for many reasons, 

including	peer	pressure	and	wanting	to	fit	in	with	

friends. They may also be curious about all the 

different	flavored	vaping	liquids	available	to	them.	

Companies that produce vaping liquids create 

appealing	flavors,	such	as	apple	pie	or	vanilla,	

to attract teens and get them hooked on 

their product.

Vaping is also much more discreet than smoking 

traditional cigarettes or smoking marijuana via 

other	methods.	Vapes	and	e-cigarettes	are	

small and can be easily mistaken for a USB 

drive, allowing students to use them in school 

bathrooms, in their own homes, or even in 

the classroom.

KNOW THE RISKS AND HARMS 

OF VAPING

There is a common misconception that vaping 

is completely harmless. The truth is, vaping is 

not safe, especially for teens and young adults. 

Research shows that 66 percent of teens think 

their	vaping	instrument	only	contains	flavored	

liquid. What many don’t understand is that these 

liquids may also contain toxic substances such 

as formaldehyde, diacetyl, and acrolein. Inhaling 

these	chemicals	can	significantly	harm	their	lungs.

Many vaping liquids also contain nicotine, which 

can be very addictive for teens and young adults, 

and can seriously impact their brain development. 

Exposure to nicotine at a young age can make 

it easier for teens to get hooked on vaping and 

using other tobacco products. Research has 

also discovered that individuals who vape are 

more likely to go on to use marijuana or smoke 

traditional	cigarettes	compared	to	their	nonvaping peers.

Make sure you know the risks and are prepared 

to talk with your teen about them.

IDENTIFY THE SIGNS

Recognizing	signs	of	vaping	can	be	difficult	

if you don’t know what to look for. One of the 

most telling signs that your teen may be vaping 

is the presence of vaping equipment among his 

or her belongings. Vaping equipment includes 

e-cigarettes,	flavored	liquid	bottles,	and	small	

pods or cartridges that can contain THC oil. It’s 

important	to	know	that	e-cigarettes	come	in	many	

different	shapes	and	sizes,	and	may	not	resemble	

a tobacco product. Many often resemble a pen or 

flash	drive	that	can	be	plugged	into	a	laptop	

to charge.

Other signs include, but are not limited to:

•	 A faint scent of flavoring in your house

that you can’t locate or identify;

•	 An increase in your teen’s thirst level;

•	 A rise in the number and frequency of 

nosebleeds your teen experiences; and

•	 A decrease in your teen’s caffeine

consumption.