Vaping and e-cigarette use are on the rise among Delaware teens.
More than ever, teens are being tempted to use — and are using — e-cigarettes with regularity. Commonly called “vaping,” this trend has been on the rise for the past several years, despite legislation in Delaware that bans the sale of e-cigarettes to minors.
What are e-cigarettes?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines e-cigarettes as battery-powered devices that heat and deliver liquid nicotine, flavors, and other ingredients to users. Although using an e-cigarette is often called vaping, e-cigarettes do not create water vapor. They create aerosols that can contain harmful metals and chemicals — and often, unknown ingredients. E-cigarettes remain unregulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In fact, many e-cigarettes deliver homemade concoctions of THC and other drugs, at great risk to users’ lungs and overall health.
What do e-cigarettes look like?
Some e-cigarettes look like tobacco cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some take the shape of hookahs, tank systems, or mods. Others are designed to resemble flash drives — such as the Juul® device — which are popular with Delaware youth, as they are easily hidden or misidentified by school authorities.
Learn moreHow do I know my child is vaping?
Certain behaviors or physical changes in your teen may indicate that he or she is vaping. Those signs include:
- Changes in mood, learning capacity, ability to reason, attention span, impulse control, and decision-making
- Dry mouth or dehydration
- Nosebleeds
- Unexplained sweet scent
- Unusual USB drives and pens
- Coughing or mouth sores
- Excessive throat clearing
- Unfamiliar batteries or chargers
- Empty e-liquid pods
- Abdominal pain
Talk vaping with your teen.
When you talk with your kids about vaping, play it casual. Start the conversation by asking what they know about it. Some of the things you should communicate include:
- Nicotine can lead to high blood pressure, fatigue, and sudden mood changes.
- Nicotine can lead to expensive and lifelong health problems.
- Vaping is a serious decision — not like drinking a slushy. Nicotine is a serious drug.
Helpful links
The Dirty Truth
This website comes clean about the way tobacco companies target teens with flavored cigars, e-cigarettes, and combustible cigarettes to get them hooked on nicotine.
Visit nowVape Toolkit
This pocket folder is a valuable resource for schools, parents, and providers. It contains fact sheets, posters, mirror clings, and more to make kids aware of the very real health risks of vaping as well as how to quit. Click the link below to get these materials for free.
Get the ToolkitQuit Tobacco
There are two ways to get help to quit smoking from specially trained counselors: Call the Delaware Quitline by phone at 1-866-409-1858 or visit QuitSupport.com.
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