Each year on the third Thursday in November, the American Cancer Society declares a Great American Smokeout to encourage smokers to make a plan to kick the habit. And with the rise in popularity of electronic cigarettes, this day offers an additional opportunity to discuss the dangers of tobacco and nicotine use with your teens.
A growing concern among parents is the use of electronic cigarettes by teens. This is due in part to the fact that first-time use of electronic cigarettes among youth has nearly tripled from 2011 to 2013 among middle and high school students, according to a National Youth Tobacco survey.
It is important to understand that just because electronic cigarettes don’t contain tobacco, they are still harmful, because they contain liquid nicotine, which the body can become highly addicted to if used frequently. Nicotine causes high blood pressure and a surge in heart rate. Additionally, it can harm adolescent brain development. The body can have withdrawals from nicotine and begin to crave it once the nicotine wears off, leading to common symptoms such as depression, fatigue and irritability.
What can parents do?
· Educate your family on the dangers of nicotine addiction
· Establish a no-tolerance policy in your home for the use of all tobacco products, including electronic cigarettes
· Since electronic cigarettes are odorless, pay attention to other signs of usage like a dry cough as well as mouth and throat irritation among
your teens
· Become familiar with what electronic cigarettes look like
Take part in the Great American Smokeout and help someone close to you fight the battle against nicotine and tobacco.
