The Alarming increase of Vaping among Teens
The teenage is already characterized by rash and risky behavior, an age when hormones rule supreme over us. The teens and pre-teens are naturally at an increased risk of booze, drugs, cigarettes, unprotected sex, and pregnancy for girls. But have you heard lately of a new thing getting associated with the kids?
It is vaping, and the usage of vapes has suddenly multiplied among them. The multiple illnesses and deaths related to vaping across the US have made headlines in recent times, and that has now included even the teenagers! The reasons are multiple, and they include:
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The advertisements of the e-cigarette manufacturers are cleverly attracting people to them, describing the benefits of vapes over the traditional cigarettes.
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The e-cigarettes come with multiple flavors that are fun to try for the kids.
- veer pressure is such a big factor among the teens and pre-teens in whichever activity they are into. So if one person tries the vape and likes it, he will encourage his friends to use it, and so on it will spread.
Parents are now getting distressed about their child possessing e-cigarettes, especially because of the recent negative headlines related to vaping. The long-term health effects of nicotine addiction are not well confirmed but are assumed to be more deadly in e-cigarettes than those with the traditional ones. Parents are believing this to such an extent that they are now hoping their kids rather smoke the traditional cigarettes instead of the vapes.
When it comes to avoiding, preventing, or educating the teens about the true reality of the vapes, threats are not going to work. This is because kids tend to rebel against anything that is forced upon them, including the ultimatums and threats; and the thing they do most in rebellion is what? Smoke!
vThe problem lies in the fact that the earlier you start the consumption of any mind-altering substance, the more are the chances of you getting a lifelong addiction. This is true not just for nicotine, but also alcohol, cocaine, opium, etc. This is the reason why teens and pre-teens are easily getting used to vapes.
Multiple pieces of research have confirmed the alarming increase in the percentage of teens and kids as young as seventh-graders using e-cigarettes today as compared to a couple of years ago. Basically, e-cigarettes were invented for the serial smokers of traditional cigarettes to gradually stop the habit. But if anyone is directly starting to smoke with these vapes, the opposite effect will be seen.
If any teen or kids is already experimenting with e-cigarettes, then you should make them understand with love and care instead of any strict action. Nicotine is extremely addictive to a yet developing brain which is why helping will be a better course of action than punishing. Some of the suggestions would be:
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You can reason with them, but be careful to not irritate them. There should be non-judgmental curiosity when you speak with them.
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Be authentic and real; use a mild language that they will understand. Use scientific facts to support your points and those which will grab their attention.
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Gradually go into the details of their habit; convince them of the importance of taking their own decisions, of not bowing to peer pressure, not trying the vapes of their friends.
Vaping among teens and younger kids is definitely not a good development, especially when the side-effects and illnesses related to it are getting known in everyday news. Prevention is anytime better than cure, but curing can also be done, just don’t get disheartened.
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