consequences even outside your lungs.” Dr. Jorge Diaz, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Wolfson Children’s Hospital, says brain development plays a major role in why teens often engage in experimental or risky behaviors, like vaping. “The human brain is expected to fully develop around the mid-twenties, and the brain develops from back to front. The area that controls impulses, known as the prefrontal cortex, develops last. This can have noticeable effects on adolescent behavior in terms of impulsivity and taking risky actions,” he explains. So, while teens are surrounded by peer pressure and naturally tend to experiment, here’s how to keep your child from vaping (or, if they’ve already started, the best tactics to help them stop): 1. Talk to your kids about vaping before their friends do. “Do not wait for them to come to talk to you about vaping,” Diaz says. “You may start the conversation by telling them you’re hearing about vaping in the news, and you’re curious to hear about it from them, since when you were young there was no such device. Make them participants, enthusiastic to provide you with information you’re looking for. At the same time, ask them what they feel leads their peers to use it. Praise the fact that they shared this information with you, and encourage them not to feel the peer pressure.” 2. Get specific about your teen’s smoking habits. If you suspect your teen is vaping, don’t beat around the bush when you ask.
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“Ask direct questions and expect yes or no answers,” explains Thimann. “You have to be really specific. Kids can be narrow-minded, and if you ask if they smoke cigarettes, they’ll say no, and you may think that includes vapes, hookahs and Juuls. Ask, ‘Have you ever, in your life, vaped? Smoked? Used hookah?’”
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3. Discuss stopping the right way. “Never approach this on a bad day or while having an argument,” says Diaz. “I’d recommend never to do it in front of peers or other family members who can add fire to the dialogue. It has to be in a relaxed and calm environment. It might require more than one attempt. Be direct and honest that, as a parent, you suspect or know about their vaping, but make sure they understand they’re not in trouble. Provide a clear message about the findings in terms of the risk. Instead of judging, discuss what can be done to avoid similar risky behaviors or actions, and provide an understanding of what can be done differently.” u
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