Teenager admitted to buying a vape

[Unicornfeathers]

DS came down stairs really distressed this evening saying he was really sorry but he had been pressurised into buying a vape by someone at school.

He had bought it from Amazon and I had signed for it this afternoon (thought it was odd) but he lasted two hours and came clean before even using it. He was really distressed and guilty but not before he deleted messages from the person who ‘pressurised’ him. He has since told me who it was (I guessed) and said it was more encouragement but more messages have come through which admit she encouraged him.

I have let her mum know that she’s vaping (her dad bought it her) but do I let school know as it’s a SEN school and there are a number of kids being encouraged by a group.

Or am I being precious?

[MotherDearest123]

Is this pressurised ur kid adhd or asd? As if they are there may be a slightly different Kay way to confronting this problem. Has your child any of these sen ? As this may have been a part of he’s done this

[Unicornfeathers]

Both teenagers involved have ASD

[MotherDearest123]

Apologies , on the first line I meant has kid whose pressurised your child into buying this got ADHD or asd ?

[Unicornfeathers]

My DS is two years younger (14)

[MotherDearest123]

I think children with asd may be easier to following other people’s ways of doing things . There also more at risk to dangerous things like these . I think personally you should inform school as the child may not know how much danger he is getting himself into and the school may be understanding as it is an sen school rather than mainstream .

[Ffsnosexallowed]

What harm is it doing??

[Unicornfeathers]

My DS also has a lung condition and there is very very limited research as to how safe it is for people with his condition. Or anyone for that matter...

[Ffsnosexallowed]

There's loads of research which shows a lack of harm. Bit of a big drip feed re the lung condition....

[MotherDearest123]

Another question is what are they smoking ? As some do contain the addictive drug nicotine and if so you should inform school if he is manipulating younger children . He will be leaving soon though so I doubt you will have to worry for much longer . By being introduced to this by him , your son may proceed to vape which is your choice if you allow him to or not though

[Unicornfeathers]

Didn’t think his lung condition was relevant (wrongly perhaps) as ultimately nicotine is very addictive and the risks of vaping on teens unknown

[AppleKatie]

I think as they are more vulnerable than the ‘average’ teen and given the coercion element then yes I would tell the school.

I would also praise your DS for coming clean so quickly with you though. He did something silly but rectified it himself and I think that should be rewarded.

[Fightthebear]

Given I was trying fags at 13 (and I was a well behaved teen) I’d struggle to get too worried by this.

Not saying it’s a good thing but doesn’t seem too serious in the run of things.

[AppleKatie]

The older boy may well have another 3 years at the school I don’t think he is ‘leaving soon’.

[PattiStanger]

Vaping doesn't have to involve nicotine, isn't that just for people trying to give up smoking?

I thought teens experimented with flavoured liquids which afaik aren't harmful, it wouldn't be at the top of my list of teenage behaviour to worry about.

[Unicornfeathers]

Mother DS had bought 0% nicotine stuff but his friends at school are smoking vapes with high nicotine amounts.

I think i’ll Email school as I hadn’t considered younger pupils being influenced

[TooTrueToBeGood]

there is very very limited research as to how safe it is for people with his condition

There's no research to show that it's dangerous either. I think you should be grateful for 2 reasons. First, that you've got such an honest kid (well done). Second, that it wasn't cigarettes, which is what most kids his age were doing when I was young.

[Unicornfeathers]

There is a sixth form so still plenty of time in school yet though my DS is moving school soon

[Fightthebear]

There is reasearch. Public Health England has done a review and said vaping is 95% less risky than smoking.

So not safe but in the scheme of things not terrible.

[Unicornfeathers]

I have told him I am very proud of him and in his words I didn’t ‘lose my shit’ not that I would have done.

I’ve read lots of the research around vaping inc the recent public health report but I’m not reassured by any of it.

[LooksLikeImStuckHere]

For me, this isn’t about the vaping, it’s about vulnerable children being pressured into doing something.

I would tell the school so that perhaps they can do something with the children with regards to how you say no to something etc?

[ReaganSomerset]

@Ffsnosexallowed

They're too new to know for certain if they do any harm. It's like mobile phone use- the first generation who grew up with them may all start developing brain tumours in the next thirty years - we can only wait, see and hope for the best. Even if there is a correlation between an illness and environmental factor, it will take many studies and a long time to prove it. Not proven harmful does not mean proven safe.

[Unicornfeathers]

I’m very cautious though as we have a genetic lung condition and my dad has COPD - can’t emphasise enough to my son how he needs to protect his lung... fwiw it’s not recommended that he works in dusty environments or with chemicals either

[Unicornfeathers]

Lookslikeimstuckhere

Yes this - emailing school now

[TooTrueToBeGood]

There is reasearch. Public Health England has done a review and said vaping is 95% less risky than smoking.

True, but do you or I even know what that even means? Personally, having read the summary of the research, I didn't even find it very scientific. Having a wank could well be 95% less risky than smoking.

[MotherDearest123]

It may affect your son. If this boy is influencing him and others to vape how do you know that eithin the next few months he may influence him to start smoking aswell or others .