Vaping Dangers

Parent Resources

Vaping Dangers

Parent Resources

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The tobacco industry targets kids with flavors. Reaching out to your local officials can make a difference. Enter your name, choose your location and we’ll direct your email to your city’s mayor or your county supervisors.

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After the vaping illness outbreak that hospitalized so many young people, I was relieved to hear about the FDA policy restricting flavored vaping products. Then I learned about the huge loophole that still lets the tobacco industry keep thousands of flavors, including menthol, on the market. Research indicates that electronic nicotine-delivery systems may put users at greater risk of COVID-19 death. Now I’m angry. 

The FDA policy loophole is a win for tobacco companies. And when they win, our kids lose—with addiction, lung damage, and brain changes that could last their lifetimes.

Let’s not let the tobacco industry get away with this. Over 90 California jurisdictions have already restricted the sale of ALL flavored tobacco products, including menthol, to protect their kids. We need your leadership on every aspect of the youth vaping epidemic now more urgently than ever.

Thank you for your leadership in the fight to stop the tobacco industry from targeting our kids. Banning the sale of most flavored e-cigarettes was an important step. Unfortunately, despite our local ban and a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) policy, menthol-flavored products are still on the market and available to kids. So the flavor widely recognized as Big Tobacco’s starter product is still on the market.

The FDA’s dangerous policy loophole is a win for tobacco companies. And when they win, our kids lose—with addiction, lung damage, and brain changes that could last their lifetimes. 

Let’s not let the tobacco industry get away with this. Over 90 California jurisdictions have already restricted the sale of ALL flavored tobacco products, including menthol, to protect their kids. We need your continued leadership on every aspect of the youth vaping epidemic now more urgently than ever.

Thank you for your leadership in the fight to protect our kids from targeting by the tobacco industry. I’m so grateful that our city has banned the sale of flavored tobacco products. We’re helping to keep kids safe from the serious health risks of nicotine.

Sadly, underage vaping continues to grow. I hope more people will work toward reversing the rise in teen vaping. California kids deserve the chance to live a healthy, nicotine-free childhood.

Sincerely,

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NICOTINE ADDICTION AND HOW TO HELP

The tobacco industry has hooked millions of teens on nicotine, risking their lung and brain health.

Download Guide

Know The Signs

  • Are there sweet, fruity, or menthol smells coming from behind closed doors?
  • Are there school supplies or tech products you don’t recognize in your kids’ backpacks or rooms? How about small vials or eye dropper bottles?
  • Have you come across unfamiliar chargers, coils, or batteries?
  • Is your teen spending more money than usual or making unexplained purchases? 
  • Have there been changes in your kids’ behavior such as increased mood swings, irritability, anxiety, or impulsivity?
  • Are your kids suffering from more frequent headaches or nausea?
  • School. Kids are buying and selling vapes in schools, especially disposable products like Puff Bar which can be bought in bulk for a big discount.
  • Stores. Alarmingly, nearly one in three kids who buy their own vapes buy them in stores. Clerks at smokeshops and convenience stores don’t always enforce the federal Tobacco 21 law, which prohibits the sale of tobacco products to anyone under 21 years of age.
  • Social media. Vape products are all over social media, and many companies promote the sale of their products right from their accounts.
  • Websites and online orders. Age verifications are easily bypassed. In fact, kids successfully buy e-cigs online 94% of the time. Orders can also be shipped to the homes if the mail arrives when parent(s) are not home. Many vape companies have names like Posh and Stig that wouldn’t raise a red flag on parents’ credit card statements.

GET HELP

4 ways to get ahead of addiction
  • Talk to your kid. Share what you both know (and think you know) about vaping. Remember, a conversation always beats a lecture.
  • Ask your pediatrician to address vaping with your teen. Doctors often explain things in a way kids will listen.
  • Find out if your school is addressing vaping and ask school leaders to host educational sessions or activities about vaping for students and parents. 
  • Ask your Parent Teacher Student Association (PTSA) to address the teen vaping epidemic with the broader school community.

What if my kid is already addicted?

No Vape chat line

Connect your kid to a trained counselor. Text NoVapes to 66819 or call 1-844-8-NO-VAPE/1-844-866-8273.

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This Is Quitting

Get text-message support for teens from the Truth Initiative. Text DITCHJUUL to 88709.

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Smoke Free Teen

Find tools for quitting and learn what to expect during the first few days from the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

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My Life My Quit

Connect teens with a supportive, knowledgeable coach. Text Start My Quit to 1-855-891-9989 or call.

Learn More

Toolkits for parents

Parents Against Vaping e-cigs (PAVe)

Find resources about quitting and links to other websites provided by this parent-powered organization.

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Stanford University

Download presentations and activity guides in this anti-vaping toolkit.

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U.S. Surgeon General

Get tips on how to talk to your kids about vaping.

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California Department of Education

See the anti-vaping toolkit California shares with teachers and staff.

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American Heart Association partnership

Learn about the tobacco industry’s insidious role in hooking kids on e-cigs.

Learn More

START THE CONVERSATION

Here's what Californians are saying about the vaping epidemic.

“

One of the biggest problems with vaping is how paranoid and easily irritated I am, as I’m always watching my back to make sure I don’t get caught. ”

— Student, 15, Mono County

“

As usual, my kid knew more about the subject than I did, but I was ready. The conversation starters helped make this important talk not just another lecture. ”

— Jennifer, San Francisco

“

Kids can control that amount of vapor being released so it’s not as easy to see when they are vaping as people think it is. They can, and do, hide them anywhere – bras, makeup, underwear, feminine hygiene products, pockets – and we can’t search students so that’s a real challenge. ”

— Principal, California Middle School

“

I think that when students think about nicotine, they know it’s not good but feel like e-cigs don’t have much [nicotine], so it’s not a problem. They hear commercials about people using Juul to stop smoking and they think Juul is better than a cigarette. ”

— Superintendent, California Middle School

“

Kids will use any e-cigarette they can get their hands on easily. They are buying credit card type gift cards then using those to purchase the devices online. We’ve seen every shape, size and brand come through our office. ”

— Vice Principal, California Middle School

“

I can’t believe tobacco flavored products look exactly like the candy my children eat. ”

— Parent, San Bruno

“

I am very aware of flavored tobacco products and the sad thing is, so is my son. He could probably tell you more about products as a 10-year-old than most adults. ”

— Parent, Merced County

“

I am hearing about an increase of student’s vaping at school and increase suspension related to vaping. Students are asked if they want to join vaping. It’s a real concern. ”

— Parent, East Palo Alto

Guides to help you prevent the dangers of vaping

guide-preview

Get the complete guide
  • Telltale signs of vaping
  • Get help if your teen is addicted
  • A visual guide to vape products
  • What schools are doing about the problem
  • Help teens uncover the facts

Get help on specific issues

How do I know if my kid is vaping?
How do I talk to my kid about vaping?
What if my teen is addicted?

Learn More

Get more information and resources on TobaccoFreeCA.com.

Identify which products teens are vaping

Watch Video

Protect yourself from COVID-19: Stop smoking and vaping now

View Article

Truth Initiative: Quitting Resources

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Find anti-vaping programs near you

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