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Signs Your Teen is Vaping: Part II

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For the tenth year in a row, e-cigarettes remain the tobacco product most commonly used by young people in the United States. Many vaping products are readily available to teens, and easily hidden from parents. So how can you tell if the youth vaping epidemic has already effected your home?

Two years ago, we detailed Six Signs Your Teen is Vaping, from a particular smell in your teen’s room to unfamiliar objects you may find around the house. Below, we’ll explore eight more warning signs that parents should know.

#7 Unexpected Packages Arrive for Your Teen

SERAC’s 2022-2023 Priority Report found that 29% of youth said it would be “very easy” or “sort of easy” to get electronic cigarettes if they wanted to. With daily package delivery becoming the norm for many households, it’s understandable. Teens are able to get vaping supplies delivered right to their homes, while still being able to keep their habit hidden.

Although retailers aren’t legally allowed to sell tobacco products to anyone under age 21, illicit online sales have outpaced regulation efforts. In 2023, research funded by Truth Initiative found that 76% of online vape shops required users to simply click a button confirming they were over age 21, without properly verifying IDs. And on platforms like TikTok, e-cigarette sellers directly target youth by advertising discrete shipping, with items concealed in packaging for beauty products or candy.

Parents should keep an eye on what’s being delivered, and how many packages your teen receives. If you notice an abundance of small packages, especially from unfamiliar retailers, they could be vape pens, cartridges, and accessories.

#8 Your Teen Uses Vaping Slang

Teens often seem to speak their own language, and the lingo changes with each generation. Unfamiliar slang, acronyms, and abbreviations can make it hard to decipher what your child is talking and texting about. But when it comes to slang terms for dangerous substances, it’s important to be in the loop—because when you hear these terms, it’s time to interrupt the conversation. For example:

  • Nicotine is often abbreviated as “nic,” while parts of a vape may be referred to as “pods” or “carts” (cartridges containing vape liquid), “atty” (atomizer), and “batt” (battery).
  • The liquid in vapes may be referred to as “juice,” “sauce,” or “VG” (for vegetable glycerin, a typical ingredient).
  • Teens may describe the activity as “cloud chasing,” “juuling,” (after a popular brand of e-cigarette), or “getting nicked” (referring to especially high doses of nicotine, which may lead them to feel “nic sick”).

Staying informed about vaping terminology can give you a better understanding of what your teen is talking about. Check out the Truth Initiative’s Vaping Lingo Dictionary to demystify more of these terms.

#9 Your Teen Follows or Consumes Social Media Content About Vaping

Social media is often a window into your teen’s world, and for many young people, vaping is a big part of “teen culture.” Even if your teen doesn’t vape, virtual immersion in vape culture will normalize it to them—so they may be accepting if their friends start vaping, or when someone offers them a puff.

Pay attention to the content your child posts and engages with online, keeping an eye out for red flags like pictures of vaping devices and vaping-related hashtags. (Yes, there are millions of posts tagged with #vapelife.)

#10 Your Teen is Unusually Tired

Nicotine is a stimulant, and that means vaping can make it harder for teens to fall asleep at night—and it also reduces the quality of the sleep that they do get, with snoring and frequent waking throughout the night. This can leave them feeling tired and groggy even after a full night’s rest. For their performance at school, sports, and other activities, the consequences can be drastic.

Be on the lookout for signs of unusual fatigue, difficulty concentrating, or changes in your child’s sleeping habits. Whether or not it’s not caused by vaping, poor sleep will eventually harm your teen’s quality of life, so it warrants a trip to the pediatrician.

#11 Your Teen Has Friends Who Vape

Peer influence is a powerful factor in a teenager’s behavior. If your child has friends or family members who vape, there’s a high likelihood that your teen may be vaping as well. It can be difficult to monitor who your child spends time with, but it’s essential to get to know their social circle. Take note if your child’s friend group suddenly changes, as peer pressure may be behind the shift.

#12 Your Teen Has Mysterious Spending Habits

Vaping can be an expensive habit. If you notice your teen is spending more money than usual or asking for extra cash without a clear explanation, they might be purchasing vaping products. Keep an eye on their spending habits and check for any unexplained withdrawals from their bank accounts. If you share a credit card, ensure you know who made each purchase, and what the purchase was.

#13 Your Teen’s Acne is Suddenly Worse

Thanks to their changing hormones, teens are already prone to acne breakouts. However, the many chemicals in vape products can exacerbate their skin woes, causing a variety of problems—including inflammation, redness, breakouts, dryness and flaking, slow wound healing, and increased sensitivity. So if your teen’s skin conditions take a sudden turn for the worse (without any changes to their diet or skincare routine), vaping might be the culprit.

#14 Your Teen Has a Seizure

The long-term impact of e-cigarettes haven’t yet been studied, and their effects on human health continue to emerge. The FDA has received hundreds of reports from people who’ve had a seizure right after vaping, suggesting that there may be a still-unknown link here. Seizures are a very rare reaction to nicotine, but vapes often contain unprecedentedly high levels of nicotine, as well as a wide range of chemicals (many or all of which are not disclosed on the packaging).

The connection between vaping and seizures is still being investigated, but in the meantime, young people shouldn’t take chances with their neurological health. This is just one of the many health risks that can have serious and even lifelong consequences. If your teen experiences unexplained seizures, seek immediate medical attention and discuss the possible impacts of vaping with healthcare professionals.

Helping Your Teen Quit Vaping

If you find out that your teen is vaping, don’t despair. You are certainly not alone, and a 2020 study found that most middle and high school students who vape do want to quit. There are many resources available to help your child kick the habit—and they’ll need support from you, too.

Here are a couple of good starting points:

This blog post is a follow-up to our August 2022 post, “6 Signs Your Teen is Vaping.” Read Part One here.

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