To think find it worrying about the number of teens now vaping...

[Meltinthemiddle]

My son who is 17 has a whole stash of them. He smokes and now vapes. I'm an ex smoker and I tried one of those elf bars to what the fuss is about and can definitely see the appeal to youngsters. However the amount of teens who are now using them is really worrying a so do wonder about the long term effects as they are still fairly new.

I agree. It is worrying.
Personally, I can’t stand the smell of them.

It's very concerning, especially the amount of 'vape shops' you see in town centres and such. We're going to have yet another generation of people with horrific health complications because of it.

Absolutely agree , very concerning

Totally agree it is worrying. Our secondary school recently sent a email home stating they were worried about how many children in the school were carrying vapes on them so they could use before and after school. They were confiscating them as they are banned from school grounds.

Yes this is a serious problem. They are the alcopops of the cigarette world. I think some should be illegal. The flavours seem to be designed to appeal to children - like boiled sweets. They are meant to be an aid for quitting smoking, not a nicotine-laced vapourised confectionary.

It's terrible.

My daughter (16) told me she has been drinking vodka her friends bring to school, neither of us drink so there isn't any in our house When I gave her a telling off about it she said "at least I'm not vaping like all the other kids", I think she was hoping for a pat on the back.

Oh wow that’s odd , as I just noticed a local park near us , was absolutely full of these and the empty boxes all over the streets!
I had no idea it was such a thing!
Are they as dangerous as smoking? I have never noticed them until recently!
(Think I’ve been in a bubble)

I'm on holiday and so many teens are using them (away from parents), and yes I think its worrying as they're for 18 years plus (so whoever is selling them isn't legitimate), they could have nicotine or something else in them and you couldn't really tell (compounded by the illegitimate seller), and it puts them into contact with people who are fine selling stuff that at best is illicit and worst plain dangerous (and don't care either, because they haven't given a shit about the first two points).

I've tried to get on the front foot and explain to mine that they were made for people to give up smoking, so they're a bit less dangerous than tobacco (that's why nan and aunt use them) BUT they are still chemicals not meant for under 18's and explaining to them about popcorn lung, where a guy in the US got horrendously ill working in a cinema and breathing in the buttery oils they used to enhanced the flavour.

It's put them off so far, but they're at the age of starting to experiment and if it's right in their face all the time I'm pragmatic enough to know they'll try if curious.

My dd recently told me that most girls in her year (year 8) are vaping. I agree it’s very worrying. Cigarettes are now behind screens but vapes are out in full view by the check out like sweets used to be. Dd said it’s because they are aimed at kids!

Vapes are not aimed at kids 🙄🙄 there is very strict legislation surrounding the production and sale of vape products. Clearly adults are purchasing these products for these teens. Just like they used to purchase cigarettes for them years ago.

@Timeforabiscuit

I'm on holiday and so many teens are using them (away from parents), and yes I think its worrying as they're for 18 years plus (so whoever is selling them isn't legitimate), they could have nicotine or something else in them and you couldn't really tell (compounded by the illegitimate seller), and it puts them into contact with people who are fine selling stuff that at best is illicit and worst plain dangerous (and don't care either, because they haven't given a shit about the first two points).

I've tried to get on the front foot and explain to mine that they were made for people to give up smoking, so they're a bit less dangerous than tobacco (that's why nan and aunt use them) BUT they are still chemicals not meant for under 18's and explaining to them about popcorn lung, where a guy in the US got horrendously ill working in a cinema and breathing in the buttery oils they used to enhanced the flavour.

It's put them off so far, but they're at the age of starting to experiment and if it's right in their face all the time I'm pragmatic enough to know they'll try if curious.

The chemical that causes pop corn lung is not allowed to be used in vape liquids and hasn't been for a long time.

@Blackbootswithredribbons

It's very concerning, especially the amount of 'vape shops' you see in town centres and such. We're going to have yet another generation of people with horrific health complications because of it.

Like?

YANBU, it's a huge huge trend in teens - probably more so than smoking would be! It's seen as 'cool' unfortunately. My DD says they're all doing it in the toilets at school - probably way easier to get away with than having a crafty cig was.

Wish I'd got into vapping at 15 instead of smoking. Yeah it's obviously not great but it's a lot better than puffing away on endless fags. I hope my son does neither but if I had to pick one vaping is the lesser of two evils by a looooong way.

@romdowa

Vapes are not aimed at kids 🙄🙄 there is very strict legislation surrounding the production and sale of vape products. Clearly adults are purchasing these products for these teens. Just like they used to purchase cigarettes for them years ago.

I have three teens and they all know multiple peers who vape. Sadly there seem to be many ways to get hold of them that don’t involve the parents.

What can a parent honestly do?

There is an US documentary about vaping and they were aimed at children before especially Juls.

OP I'm shocked that you tolerate your 17 year old smoking at all. I would not allow that in my home. How did he get into that at this day in age?

Yanbu.
There are lots of year 8s and even year 7s who vape at my dd’s school. And this is in a relatively ‘nice’ area. Not sure how they are getting their hands on them or paying for them but it’s definitely quite a big ‘thing’

I know it's not allowed now, but it's it's great example of now a chemical used in one situation can be un safe, even if its something as innocuous as popcorn.

I don't buy that manufacturers don't know what theyre doing, single use sweet flavoured in appealing colours - yeah kids totally aren't being marketed, them being "forbidden" only adds to the allure. And I don't buy that every legitimate vape seller is being hoodwinked by a misguided parent either.

Dsis has been over to visit from Australia and she says the laws around selling capes are as strict as cigarettes - cannot seen the packaging etc etc. she was surprised with the ease and accessibility of them in shops. 3 dc in secondary here and they are very very common and being used in school toilets.

@Jobseeker19

There is an US documentary about vaping and they were aimed at children before especially Juls.

OP I'm shocked that you tolerate your 17 year old smoking at all. I would not allow that in my home. How did he get into that at this day in age?

I think the US smoking age (including vaping) is now 21 and they are very strict with ID. They have harsh laws about giving smoking products to minors. Perhaps we should do the same.

My son said it’s easier to come out as trans in his school than be a non vaper. He does a lot of sport and hates it but gets so much grief for not doing it. It’s a massive concern.

So glad my teens don't vape. I know my ds tried them and liked them, I droned on about smoking (I used to smoke) and sprouting Allan Carr bite size phrasing at him and as far as I know hasn't done it again. He has no obvious signs of being addicted to nicotine. He's spent the whole day with me today making crumble, eating a roast, gardening and we're just about to watch a film.

Those Elf bars really helped me give up smoking. I used them for a month, then went to patches for a week and then cold turkeyed it. But they did hurt my chest and I'm worried I've damaged my lungs more than smoking ever did

Yes this is a serious problem. They are the alcopops of the cigarette world. I think some should be illegal. The flavours seem to be designed to appeal to children - like boiled sweets. They are meant to be an aid for quitting smoking, not a nicotine-laced vapourised confectionary.

Yet the alcopops and flavoured spirits have remained. If adult choice is to be limited to teenagers getting hold of products not aimed at them, then it all needs to go doesn't it? It would be hypocritical to ban one without the other. (And I'd personally like to keep flavoured spirits).

Plus wasn't flavouring in vapes banned in the US? It just pushes people back into smoking. Thankfully the government seem to have a sensible stance right now and many people who would have died from smoking related disease will survive.

@Jobseeker19

There is an US documentary about vaping and they were aimed at children before especially Juls.

OP I'm shocked that you tolerate your 17 year old smoking at all. I would not allow that in my home. How did he get into that at this day in age?

He is 17 and what can I physically do? I've stopped giving him money and I definitely don't buy them.for him. He's not allowed to smoke in the house or garden but I know he has them! But I really can't do much more.