How to deal with vaping

[mickey54]

Hi I have a 15 year old son all his friends vape I have spoken to him at length about the health effects etc and he’s asthmatic. However we’ve been to the dentist and he said he has gum disease at the bottom of teeth and does he vape. He normally has perfect teeth. I didn’t think much of it . Now I have smelt vape in his room he flat out denied it and said hes not doing it. So I’ve pulled his room apart whilst at scho and found the vape 😒and some vials or whatever they are . I am so cross more so with lying to me.
not sure how to approach the situation. I was thinking about waiting till he realises I have taken it out the room. -anyone have any advice how to handle this ? By the way I know Itz typical teenage behaviour! Thank you

I just want to say I feel your pain. My teen is 18 so I can't stop him

I've just told him there's no vaping in the house & hoping he stops

@ny20005 oh dear sorry to hear. Teenagers 😒

I would just kill mine! ( not literally). But I have said I will be having the most amazing retirement and that I will spend all my money and there will be no inheritance if they vape🤣

Mine is 21 and seriously addicted. Sometimes he goes through 2 per day of the Elf things. He cannot stop. It's actually worse that smoking.

Following for advice

Ooh yeah l will tell mine that all her inheritance will go to a lung cancer charity if she ever starts.

@Mamabear999 i know! I have asked him again and not let on I’ve found it he’s still adamant there isn’t one in his room and he hasn’t been doing it.🙄

@nopenotplaying i have actually just said same thing to him it’s worse than smoking. God knows why these were invented !

Well he's 15 and he's lied repeatedly and broken your rules in your house.

Loss of privileges for a start surely?

@ThejoyofNC yes for sure. He has a college interview later so not rocking the boat yet. And he wants to go to a party next week that I have told him is dependant on behaviour so I am definitely getting to it

Well he can kiss goodbye to the party!

Sorry you're dealing with this, it can be really difficult to deal with the dishonesty more than anything so I hope you can speak to him and he comes clean.

Yea I know that’s the most annoying thing is dishonesty and now arguing with my husband on how to deal with rte situation we haven’t said we have it yet although I’m guessing he will know it’s missing. I’ve told him to come back to me if he has anything to say so will see…

Mine tells me he's given up all the time. He's also not allowed to vape in the house, but he does I know it.

I don't condone smoking OR vaping for young people in any way, shape or form and for someone who has never smoked to start vaping is stupid, but it's really not worse than smoking. I smoked for 20 years and switched to vaping and the twice yearly chest infections and smoking induced asthma have completely disappeared.

It's not good and they don't want to be putting ANYTHING in their lungs but it's definitely done me a world of good while I'm still in the throes of nicotine addiction 😊

The gum disease is a much bigger problem than the vaping, and it ISN'T caused by vaping, it might make managing the issue more difficult, but he needs to get this sorted.

Gum disease at that age can have massive effects on the long term future of his teeth. Recession at his age, even just a mm, can knock decades off his overall dental health.

Please get him to a dentist ASAP, get a check up, several deep cleans with a hygienist and an ongoing managment plan.

Then tackle the vaping issue.

@Chiseltip its the dentist who spotted it we visit regularly so we are on top of it now he said thank you

Oh don't punish for this - not worth it and all you do is 'drive it underground'

You're better off discussing it, keeping communication channels open, saying it's not to happen in the house etc etc and reminding them of the health issues down the line - I'd use a light touch as no teenager ever listened to their parents remember ...

If you want your child to tell you what's going on in their lives you have to mean it when you say they can talk to you about anything as that'll include the good and the bad

My son took up vaping when he was 17. He's now 18. At first I was furious but then I had a think and decided to just tell him he was an idiot but I'd be here for support when and if he needed it

It means he is as open with me as he ever was and we don't have any lying or hiding (plus the fact he's an 'adult' now)

He's very into good nutrition and fitness so I take that opportunity to lightly stress how vaping doesn't fit in with this really

Bottom line is you will not stop him doing this through the sheer power of your will and punishments. You will cause a rift and issues in your relationship so think carefully about whether you want to go down that road

@BatChops no the up shot is I took it out the bedroom and said to him if you have something to tell me come and speak to me. Which he thought about and Came to me later on that night. He confessed all I went through I was disappointed in him lying all the risks of vaping and took it off him. Hopefully learnt a lesson and told him he can’t bring one in house again and I don’t want him doing it so will see how it goes, he seemed ok with it!

I wouldn't stop a kid going to a party over this - you want teenagers to be social and see friends - and you want to maintain open communication and good relationship with them.

It's just the stuff teens do - I would link it to money perhaps? make sure he doesn't have spare cash for vaping.

@waterrat no I’m not stopping him going to the party as long as he behaves until then and yes has no cash to buy anything only card

It’s tough when they lie but catching it early is key. If you're looking for ways to help him quit http://www.puffstats.com/ can track his usage and show the real impact, making it easier to stay on top of things. Talking through the health risks might help too.