Of course, vaping is nowhere near as harmful as smoking, but there are age laws for a reason. Just as three decades ago, you could smoke in pubs and kids as young as 12 were getting a taste for tobacco, nowadays lots of kids are turning to vaping. There are a range of reasons for this, and when it comes to the use of vape juices by underage kids, there are definite warning signs to look out for. It’s normal for kids to experiment however, and it’s best to approach the issue with your children in a way which won’t antagonise.
A child is more likely to smoke cigarettes if they have already vaped
According to the data compiled by six different studies on vaping, minors are four times more likely to smoke if they have already tried vaping. This is common sense, once they’ve tried one, why not try the other. Many kids would prefer vaping to smoking, it just tastes better, and whilst it is still illegal and should be stopped, it is a better alternative than smoking.
Nicotine can be poisonous
In large quantities, nicotine is extremely
poisonous. Animals and babies have died from drinking vape juice from the
bottle. If you have a low tolerance to nicotine, this can be extremely
dangerous, and as they are underage and probably haven’t experienced nicotine
before, they may get nauseous from vaping with nicotine concentrated
e juice.
Vape bottles are childproof for a reason
With that in mind, it’s no wonder vape juice bottles are child proof. These tamper-proof bottles are designed to keep underage kids out, and whilst a savvy teen will no doubt be able to open it, you can be rest assured younger kids won’t be able to.
Vaping can be dangerous if you don’t charge correctly
If you’re kid gets hold of a vape mod or an unregulated and rebuildable device, you better hope they have a decent understanding of electrical circuitry and ohms law. Vape devices all have a simple looking but complex electrical system powered by a battery. Most vape devices need to be charged, and if you overcharge, use the wrong battery for your device or power it further than the device can handle, the minor in question might see their device go up with a real bang.
Vaping can lead to nicotine addiction
By its very nature, many vape shop e liquids contain nicotine. This means that in ingesting it, you are opening the risk to addiction, which can take a long time to win a battle against. Dissuade your child from letting nicotine get a grip on them and ensure that they avoid addiction.
CBD
CBD is a chemical found in cannabis plants, and whilst it doesn’t contain the psychoactive and often harmful THC from your illegal cannabis strains, cannabidiol is still a controlled substance which is used for medical purpose. Anything used for medical purposes shouldn’t be used recreationally by minors.
The clues
Are you worried your child is vaping? Here are a few signs for you to pick up on in case you are worried that they have started down the vaping road. If they have, don’t worry too much, just sit them down and talk to them calmly about the dangers which can come from using e liquids underage.
Charging devices in their room which you don’t recognise
You know a laptop charger, you know an MP3 or phone charger, but what is that strange battery pack or USB wire with a funny end? If you see something like this, it could well be a vape charging kit. You could always “lose” it for your child, but they might know you’ve been going through their stuff.
Sweet smells coming from their room
Vapour can linger, especially if the user has been cloud chasing, billowing large amounts of vapour into the air. This means that you can sometimes smell vapour a few minutes after they have stopped vaping. If you start smelling sweet or tobacco-like smells from the room of the minor, then it might be a sign that they are trying to vape inconspicuously.
More thirsty than usual
Nicotine and vapour can dry out your mouth when inhaled. If your child is drinking more water than usual, or you notice drier lips, it might be a case of their using, or overusing of vape liquid.
Signs of nicotine addiction
If they haven’t been able to get a moment to themselves to vape, then you may notice your minor becoming more irritable, or becoming unable to concentrate on specific tasks. Your teen might not be able to sleep properly or have more of an appetite than usual. Nicotine consumption can make one lose their appetite, so prolonged withdrawal from it will mean you have stronger hunger pangs than you did before.