Vape pens are often portrayed as a healthier alternative to cigarettes, even though most e-cigarettes contain nicotine. They are illegal for teens to use and can lead to nicotine dependence. If your teen is vaping, teen substance abuse treatment can help them stop.
Foothills at Red Oak Recovery is a behavioral health treatment center that helps adolescent boys heal and recover from substance use disorders. If your teenager is vaping, it’s time to get help.
Call 866.300.5275 today to learn more about the teen substance abuse recovery programs at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery.
Is Vaping Dangerous?
Vaping is dangerous for everyone, regardless of age. There are two main reasons for this: nicotine content and how e-cigarettes work.
Almost all vapes contain nicotine, the same active ingredient in cigarettes that leads to addiction in cigarette smokers. Regular nicotine use quickly leads to physical and psychological dependence, and stopping use can be challenging once it has become a habit.
In addition to the nicotine content of vape pens, how they work poses certain health risks. Vape pens contain a liquid usually composed of a blend of nicotine and other harsh chemicals. The device heats the liquid until it vaporizes into an aerosol, which is then inhaled into the lungs.
Since vape pens are relatively new devices, studies on the long-term dangers of vaping are limited. However, the chemicals present in vape fluids may pose a danger to lung health.
The Dangers of Vaping for Teens
Vaping can be risky for everyone who uses e-cigarettes. However, the dangers of vaping and the possible consequences may be particularly concerning for teens.
Teenagers’ bodies and brains are still developing. That puts teens at a higher risk of suffering long-term health consequences from vaping than adults, whose respiratory systems are already fully-formed.
Similarly, teenagers who use nicotine are susceptible to developing tobacco use disorder. Many vapes contain much higher quantities of nicotine than the average cigarette.
Vapes are also small and discreet, making them easy to use with high frequency. A vaping teen may be intaking a far more elevated amount of nicotine than one who smokes cigarettes.
Finally, nicotine products are illegal for teenagers to use. If a teen is vaping, it means they’ve crossed the line into illegal activity, which can result in legal consequences.
Common Vaping Side Effects
Vaping comes with side effects, especially for teenagers. Some vaping side effects impact physical health, while others take a toll on mental, emotional, and behavioral health. Common physical side effects of vaping include:
- Shortness of breath
- Headache
- Cough
- Nausea
When vaping is stopped, it can also lead to nicotine withdrawal symptoms like irritability, restlessness, and changes in eating and sleeping habits.
Since it’s illegal for most teens to purchase vapes, it’s not uncommon for vape use to be accompanied by behavioral changes that include secretiveness and anger or defensiveness when confronted.
Teenagers can also use vapes to consume marijuana and other drugs. Both nicotine and other substances are dangerous for a young person. The developing brain of a teenager makes it easier to develop and harder to overcome a substance use disorder.
Get Help for Teen Vaping at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery
Most parents wouldn’t turn a blind eye if their teen was smoking cigarettes. Vaping should be no different. Despite what your teenager may claim, vaping is addictive, dangerous, and illegal for teens.
Teen substance abuse treatment is designed to help teenagers overcome physical and psychological dependence on all types of substances—including vape pens.
Foothills at Red Oak Recovery provides teenage boys with the tools they need to understand their behaviors and overcome substance use. To learn more about how we can help your teen stop vaping, contact us at 866.300.5275 and ask about getting help at Foothills at Red Oak Recovery.
