Teens, Smoking and Vaping

Open the conversation with your teen about smoking and vaping’s addictive and harmful qualities, how to avoid them and how to quit if necessary.

Jen Hawkins, MPH

Jean Jacquemet, R.N.

Palo Alto Medical Foundation

Young people start smoking or using tobacco products for many reasons – to act older, be independent, fit in, relieve stress, rebel against adults and (sometimes) imitate their parents.

However, nicotine, the addictive drug found in regular cigarettes and other tobacco products, can harm teens’ and young adults’ developing brains and cause problems with learning, attention and memory. Plus, it’s illegal to sell or supply any tobacco product to anyone under 18 in the United States.

Electronic cigarettes are now the most widely used form of tobacco for U.S. youth. They are also known as also known as vapes, e-cigs, mods, e-hookahs, tank systems, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) and more. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine and some contain other harmful chemicals.

From 2011 to 2015, e-cigarette use among middle and high school students increased an incredible 900 percent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 in 5 high school students and 1 in 20 middle schoolers (more than 3.6 million youth) used e-cigarettes in 2018.

Quick Facts

Smoking is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States.
Smoking affects nearly every organ in the body. Smoking causes cancer, heart and lung diseases, type 2 diabetes, stroke and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
More than 16 million U.S. people currently live with a smoking-related disease.
Approximately 90 percent of adult smokers started smoking before the age of 18.
Most teens can buy cigarettes even though it’s illegal to sell them to minors in all 50 states.
Smokeless tobacco (chew or spit tobacco) isn’t a safe alternative to smoking. Regular use can cause cancer of the cheek, gums, tongue and throat.
E-cigarette use by youth is associated with the use of other tobacco products, such as cigarettes.
If tobacco use begins in adolescence, it has the potential to create addiction to nicotine for life.
Nicotine causes potential harmful health effects on pregnant women and unborn babies.

More About E-cigarettes

E-cigarettes come in various shapes and sizes. They can look like regular cigarettes or like pens, highlighters, USB sticks (flash drives) and other household items. They deliver a potent, vaporized or aerosolized form of nicotine, often far stronger than traditional cigarettes.

Most e-cigarettes have a battery, a heating element and a place to hold liquid. E-cigarettes heat and convert the liquid (which usually contains nicotine) into a vapor, which is inhaled into the lungs. E-cigarettes can also deliver other drugs, such as marijuana.

E-cigarette vapors may contain chemicals that are potentially harmful to lungs. Some of the substances in the aerosol are:

Nicotine.
Flavoring, such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease.
Solvents.
Heavy metals, such as lead, tin and nickel.
Cancer-causing chemicals.

Tips for Parents

Prevention is key. Don’t wait for your teen to smoke or vape before you talk about tobacco use. Many kids begin trying cigarettes or vapes at 11 or 12 years of age. If your child already smokes or vapes encourage them to talk to you and their doctor.
Talk to your child about the dangers of tobacco use and how to respond to peer pressure. Try to remain nonjudgmental and encourage an open dialogue.
Establish rules. Talk about family expectations and rules about smoking. Clearly state and enforce the consequences for breaking the rules.
Know the facts. Teens often don’t relate to future health problems, such as lung cancer and heart disease, caused by smoking or vaping. Try talking about the dangers of smoking in a way that hits home with your teen. For example, let your teen know that smoking stains teeth and causes bad breath, yellow fingers, smelly hair and clothing, and premature wrinkles. Smokers also have less athletic endurance.
Challenge the ads. Tobacco ads that create images of glamour, fitness, fun and success mislead some teens to think they can improve their self-image by smoking. Manufacturers make e-cigarettes in assorted colors, shapes and candy flavors to target young people.
Encourage your teenager to get involved in activities, such as sports or volunteering, that will keep them busy and don’t allow smoking. Also, get to know your teen’s friends. Know where they hang out and what they’re doing.
Be honest. Do you smoke or are you an ex-smoker? You can still express concern over your teen starting the habit. Talk about how hard it is to quit. Share your experiences.
If you smoke, try to quit. If you smoke, your teen is more likely to become a smoker. Also, research shows that secondhand smoke increases nonsmokers’ risk of lung cancer. Ask your doctor or other healthcare provider to help you quit smoking, or contact SmokeFree.gov.
Support community efforts to work against tobacco ads and products that target young people.

Helpful Resources

If your child is smoking or vaping, get information about how to quit.

Other helpful resources for parents include:

American Lung Association: Tips for Talking to Kids About Smoking
California Smokers’ Helpline
Flavors Hook Kids
Kids Health: Kids and Smoking (for Parents)
NIDA for Teens: The Science Behind Drug Abuse
Parents Against Vaping
Smokeless Tobacco: Tips on How to Stop
Smoking and Tobacco Use

Reviewed by: Nancy Brown, Ph.D.

Last Reviewed: December 2019

PAMF does not sponsor or endorse any sites referenced in this article, nor does PAMF guarantee the accuracy of the information contained on them.