Vaping 101 Course
Above all, it is better to learn about the subject, believes Annie Papageorgiou, director general of the Quebec Council on tobacco and health. In recent years, myths have circulated about vaping. Examples ? We have heard in particular that the smoke produced is only water vapor or that vapers do not contain nicotine. However, although some vaping liquids without nicotine exist, 90% of those consumed by young people contain it, according to figures from the CQTS. “It has been proven that nicotine alters the memory and concentration of adolescents, underlines Annie Papageorgiou. It can also promote the appearance of psychological disorders such as depression, stress, anxiety. We also know that it can weaken the capacity of the lungs. The executive director of the CQTS believes that parents should be aware of the harmful effects of vaping and invites them to consult the “Québec sans tabac” site for more information.
Dialogue rather than fear
Do you want to discourage your youngster from trying the vaper? Trying to scare him by exposing him to all the research on the subject is not the avenue that Annie Papageorgiou recommends. It is better to bet on dialogue by “validating with him what he knows about the vaper and what he thinks about it”. Myriam Day Asselin, Director of Innovation and Development at Tel-Jeunes, also believes in the importance of opening the discussion with her teenager. “It’s always good to work with open-ended questions. It allows us to understand where our young person is in his understanding of the subject. “What do you think of vaping?” or “Is it popular at your school?” are two examples of possible questions. “Parents often imagine that their child does not want to talk about these subjects with them, but studies show on the contrary that young people expect to have these discussions with their parents. I’m not saying they won’t roll their eyes, but parents remain THE reliable and trusted source for a young person,” says Annie Papageorgiou.
sooner rather than later
Knowing that some students start vaping in fifth or sixth grade, should we broach the subject with our elementary-aged child? “I would say the sooner, the better,” replies Myriam Day Asselin. According to her, this shows the child that his parent is open to discussing this subject and that he can turn to him if he has questions. “It’s not true that talking about it will encourage him to consume. On the contrary, it sharpens his critical judgment and therefore, perhaps even discourages the young person from trying it, ”argues the spokesperson for Tel-Jeunes. However, the discussion must be adapted to the child’s level of understanding. And no matter what age you first broach the subject, it’s good to revisit it periodically. “It’s not because we asked the question once when his teenager was in 1D secondary that it should not be rested three or four months later. A young person evolves so quickly that his positions can change, ”says Annie Papageorgiou.
Limits to set
In Quebec, one in five adolescents vapotes, according to the National Institute of Public Health of Quebec. In some places, it is even easy for people under 18 to get vaping products, an article by The Press. If your teen is one of these statistics and you want them to quit smoking, what can you do? Myriam Day Asselin believes in listening to your child, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t set limits. “Young people need a framework,” she says. You don’t want your youngster vaping at home? At school ? We tell him so while explaining the reasons for this rule, suggests Myriam Day Asselin. The teenager may try to get around it, she warns, however, because at this age, “it’s normal to go experiment outside”.
small victories
Addiction, shortness of breath: some effects of vaping are felt quickly by young people, says Annie Papageorgiou. So much so that about one out of two teenagers who vape wants to quit. How can we accompany him on his journey? The encouragement of those around you can be very beneficial, believes the general manager of the CQTS. In particular, we can highlight small victories, such as a smoke-free evening. Getting him to change his routine can also contribute to a change in habits. Created for young people, the “Brise l’illusion” site presents various resources to help you quit vaping.