Today’s ads, vaping pens, and increased flavored cartridges encourage teens to vape rather than smoke cigarettes. The smoking alternative may seem less harmful than cigarettes. However, vaping can have negative side effects for both teenagers and adults. Vaping can lead to smoking cigarettes, drug use, abuse, and adverse health effects. A substance abuse treatment program for teens can help young adults understand the root cause of vaping addiction and find healthy alternative coping mechanisms.

If your teen vapes, call Foothills at Red Oak Recovery to learn about our teen substance abuse treatment programs. Located in beautiful North Carolina, our holistic treatment programs help adolescent boys regain control of their lives. In addition, our clinic provides a dual diagnosis for addiction and mental health with a range of therapies. Reach us today at 866.300.5275 for more information about vaping and addiction.

What Is Vaping?

Vaping is a method of smoking electronic cigarettes and vape pens. These popular electronics vaporize cartridges of tobacco, flavored marijuana, and other chemicals while a battery powers the atomizer as a person inhales. Instead of inhaling smoke, a user inhales chemical-infused water vapors. This process makes vaping seem less harmful than smoking. However, e-cigarettes still release nicotine and may have adverse effects on lung tissue.

Nicotine is a highly addictive active chemical in cigarettes and e-cigarettes. It increases blood pressure and stiffens arteries. Over time, nicotine use can lead to life-threatening heart problems. Nicotine also increases adrenaline, the chemical our body makes as a stress response to danger. While cigarettes and e-cigarettes seem less harmful than illicit drugs, studies show nicotine can be just as addictive as cocaine or opioids. E-cigarettes can flood the body with more nicotine than a traditional cigarette, as some high-concentration cartridges deliver even higher doses of nicotine.

Caffeine is another common chemical that releases a dose of adrenaline that can motivate or energize. Unfortunately, constant adrenaline can cause adrenal fatigue and increase the potential for long-term heart problems.

How Does Vaping Lead to Addiction?

Like other drugs, vaping can help teens self-medicate for stress and untreated mental health disorders. Many teens may use vaping as a method of self-soothing or a strategy to fit in with others who vape. Most e-cigarette cartridges are flavored like candy, which makes them especially appealing to teenagers. For teenagers, especially, the psychological effects of nicotine often lead to other drug use and addictive behaviors. Continued research shows vaping is increasingly dangerous for adolescents and adults. For teen smokers, an addiction treatment center can help.

Because nicotine is highly addictive and vaping comes with few immediate side effects, it can lead teens to develop habitual drug use. They may start vaping socially but quickly develop nicotine dependence. If a teen is self-medicating, they will eventually need something stronger than nicotine to self-soothe. This can lead to other drug use and addiction.

Call Foothills at Red Oak Recovery Now to Get Started

The effects of teen vaping are still undergoing extensive research across the country. Because vaping is still relatively new, it may take years to understand the long-term effects of teen vaping. If your teen vapes or smokes, their behavior may point to underlying addiction triggers, unprocessed trauma, or mood disorders.

The team at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery can help your teen cope with daily stress without e-cigarettes or vape pens. Our programs for adolescent boys treat a variety of addictions and co-occurring disorders to help teens focus on what really matters in their lives. Our North Carolina campus includes equine-assisted therapy to help teen boys disconnect from addiction triggers and reconnect with the world around them. We also offer therapies such as:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
• Family therapy
• Experiential therapy
• Trauma therapy

If your son or a teen boy you love smokes, Foothills at Red Oak Recovery can help. Reach our friendly staff at 866.300.5275 to learn more about our substance abuse treatment programs and get started today.