Overview
Youth are vaping at alarming rates and early in life. Many young people start vaping and trying nicotine products in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. Vapes and e-cigarette “juice” and “e-liquids” are poisonous, hazardous waste, and represent a risk to small children.
Parents and caregivers need to understand what the new nicotine and tobacco products look like. They also need to understand where youth access vapes, how to recognize the signs of nicotine addiction, and how to have effective, non-judgmental, and safe conversations with their child or teen.
What We Are Doing
Informational One-Pager
We created an informational one-pager, “Your Child is Vaping. Now What? Tips for Parents & Caregivers.”
Reading School District Presentation
ATVFC’s Nico Polanco gave a presentation at Lauer Elementary School in Reading, PA, titled “Vaping Prevention for Parents.”
Community Conversations
We also provide “Community Conversations” at schools, churches, community organizations, health centers, etc. To request a presentation, please contact us.
Program Highlights
Vaping Trends: What Every Parent Should Know About Nicotine and Cannabis
This community-based conversation covers advances in vape and e-cigarette technology and the dangers of nicotine addiction. The information provided included the alarming rates of nicotine use and vaping among youth, the health risks associated with the flavors, nicotine, and cannabis substances found in vapes, how vapes impact adolescent development, as well as the environmental and community-level effects. The discussion also included strategies for having productive, safe conversations with your children and teens, and how to support them in making healthy decisions.