6 Signs Your Teen Is Vaping
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In Connecticut, 27% of high school students use electronic cigarettes—a product that many of them see as a healthier alternative to traditional cigarettes. Unfortunately, many teens are still not aware that vapes contain more than just flavored liquid. The harmful chemicals in vapes include nicotine and caffeine, as well as many others which haven’t been adequately studied.
The sooner you can help your child quit vaping, the fewer health risks they may face. To that end, it’s important to know what to look for if you suspect your teen might be vaping. Here are six possible signs that parents should be aware of.
#1 Vapes May Leave a Faint Sweet or Fruity Scent in Your Home.
The 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey found that about 85% of youth e-cigarette users prefer flavored products, with fruit, mint, and candy flavors being most popular among high school students. Unlike cigarettes, the smell from vaping can be faint and hard to recognize, but take note if you detect the scent of baked goods, bubble gum, or other sweets in your teen’s room. The smell typically dissipates quickly, so expect to catch a whiff while your teen is home, not when they’ve been gone all day.
While the FDA restricted flavored vaping cartridges in 2020, e-liquids and disposable e-cigarettes are still widely available in flavors that appeal to teens. Some states have further prohibited flavored e-cigarettes, but in Connecticut, this legislature has so far failed to pass.
#2 Vaping May Disrupt Your Teen’s Sleep Schedule.
For teens, vaping can make a good night’s rest hard to come by. The chemicals and caffeine in e-cigarettes can result in your child staying up later than usual, having trouble falling asleep, and sleeping restlessly—which in turn can make getting up in the morning difficult as well. Getting 8-10 hours of good quality sleep is especially important for teenagers, whose brains and bodies are still developing, so it’s important to intervene if you suspect your child is losing sleep (especially because of vaping).
#3 Vaping Can Contribute to Mood and Behavior Changes in Your Teen.
Changes in behavior are a given when it comes to teens, so think about what’s typically “normal” for your child. Between the nicotine in vapes and the sleep disturbances they can cause, vaping is tied to mood disorders and to symptoms such as anxiety, irritability, and reduced impulse control. Teens may have trouble paying attention, learning, and remembering things, and their academic performance may take a nosedive.
These symptoms are also red flags for a variety of mental health conditions which may arise during the teenage years, so it’s a good idea for parents to be able to detect changes and to encourage their children to be open about their feelings. Even if it turns out that vaping is not the cause of your teen’s behavioral changes, having open lines of communication can help them get the support they need.
#4 Vaping Can Cause a Variety of Health Issues in Teens.
Unfortunately, vaping can have detrimental impacts on teens’ bodies as well as their brains. The most obvious signs are caused by dehydration, such as dark circles under the eyes and mouth sores that don’t seem to heel. A dry mouth may have your child drinking more water, while a dry nose can result in nosebleeds.
There are also more serious signs to look out for, such as respiratory symptoms. Vaping liquids are filled with harmful chemicals that can irritate the airways and lungs, increasing the smoker’s risk for developing asthma, chronic bronchitis, and even COPD. Your teen may suddenly develop shortness of breath, increased mucus production, or a cough that doesn’t go away.
The repercussions may be particularly serious for teens with asthma—their symptoms may worsen, leading to severe asthma attacks, pneumonia, and lung damage. Unfortunately, parents should not assume that their child will “know better” because of their diagnosis—in fact, a 2016 study found that middle and high school students with asthma were actually more likely than their peers without asthma to use any tobacco product, including electronic cigarettes. (E-cigarettes were also the most commonly used tobacco product among both groups.)
#5 Vaping May Cause Changes to Your Teen’s Eating & Drinking Habits.
Beyond the increased thirst caused by dry mouth and dehydration, there are other signs to look out for at mealtime. Nicotine is an appetite suppressant, so a teen who vapes may begin eating less, resulting in weight loss. Also keep an eye out for a reduced sense of taste—a common condition referred to as “vaper’s tongue.” This may indicate damaged taste buds caused by smoking, or it may be another result of dry mouth. Either way, you may notice your teen attempting to add more flavor to their food with heavier doses of salt, spices, or condiments.
Finally, take note if your teen seems to be drinking less caffeine. While this may initially seem to be a good thing, they may be experiencing caffeine sensitivity, as some e-cigarettes contain high doses of caffeine. Another addictive substance, caffeine is regularly consumed by more than 80% of teens, in the form of coffee, soda, and energy drinks. If your teen suddenly gives up their daily coffee, it’s more likely that they’re simply getting the caffeine from another source.
#6 Unfamiliar Technology Around the House.
Vapes come in a variety of sizes and shapes, and many devices are designed to look innocent—you might mistake them for pens, USB flash drives, or other tech. If you’re not sure what a device is, start by asking. Inspect unusual pieces you may find around the house, looking for holes at both ends as well as USB charging ports or batteries that can be removed for recharging.
For help determining if an unfamiliar object may be a vape, check out the CDC’s E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products Visual Dictionary.
If you haven’t noticed any of these red flags, but still have a gut feeling that your teen may be vaping, trust your parent’s intuition. Talk with your children early and often about the dangers of smoking and vaping, and let them know they can come to you for help and support if they’re facing addiction. For more information about the risks and tips on how to get the conversation started, visit the Partnership to End Addiction website.