Is vaping becoming a "thing" with teenagers now?

[ennagizer]

I had a conversation today with a man who started asking about my ecig. Turns out he was interested because he has a teenage daughter who he found out started vaping recently. His daughter is 17 and purchased the ecig at a local vape shop.

It got me wondering if vaping is becoming a "thing" with teenagers & young adults now - those that may have never smoked, but are picking up on vaping because it's a cool thing to do. Any thoughts or insights?

 

[Chris Happy Dorowsky]

i think some kids hear people say its not bad for you so they want to try it, its also an expensive hobby so i dont see kids getting that into it

 

[Guild]

um, in my experience, teenagers do more drugs than adults. I don't think it has anything to do with vaping being a "thing" any more than any other type of drug use.

edit: Chris, you went from one to 5 posts in like 3 minutes! How did you do that?

 

[TomCatt]

Thoughts:

Visit this vape shop and inform them that 'supposedly a 17 year old' purchased from their shop. Hopefully they are following the norm and only selling to 18+.

Would this girl have started smoking if vaping wasn't available? If so, it's lucky that vaping is available; if not and only doing it to "be cool" - not cool.

 

[ennagizer]

Thoughts:

Visit this vape shop and inform them that 'supposedly a 17 year old' purchased from their shop. Hopefully they are following the norm and only selling to 18+.

Actually, when I mentioned that shops shouldn't sell to anyone under 18 and probably should have checked ID he said she went in with a friend who was over 18. At least that's what his daughter told him.

 

[Kanj.nguyen]

Dont see it becoming a thing. It is relatively expensive for someone with no income, and research is time consuming.

But of course there are kids who can just stomp their feet and daddy would fork up however much for a Provari just because it is supposed to be "top of the line" and other similar situations. How do you think middle schoolers walk around with iPhone?

I make it a point to turn them away.

 

[iceman68]

I hope vaping does not become a trend or "cool" with the under 18 crowd. BT and the FDA would surely use that as an argument for regulation, stricter laws, licensing issues, taxes, etc., which is exactly what they want. If stories of minors buying vaping gear start to proliferate it'll be bad news.

Hopefully the retail locations will act responsibly. Internet sales is another issue. After all, anyone can click the "Yes, I'm 18" button.

 

[Baditude]

I've shared this story before, and since it is relevant to this thread, it's worth repeating.

My daughter just turned 18. She doesn't smoke, but her 19 year old brother and several of her friends do.

She always had taken an active interest in my quitting smoking using electronic cigarette devices. I did allow her to "sample" my new flavors when I got them, and we'd compare our like or dislikes.

She recently asked me for her own mod for her birthday. She wanted to use zero-nicotine juices but still be able to enjoy the flavors. I had previously been against non-smokers taking up vaping, but that was because of the nicotine issue. Why start a habit to a known addictive substance when you have no previous addiction to it?

This situation was different. Should I be pro-active and encourage her to vape, using the no-nicotine juices, in the hope that she would not take up cigarette smoking. My rationale was yes; far better to vape no nicotine than risk starting up smoking.

I purchased her a pink BB mod with 3 batteries, a charger, and a couple of Vivi Nova tanks. I got her 3 bottles of zero-nicotine e-liquids in the flavors she wanted.

Her friends had tried my mods and liked them, saying that this was a better alternative than smoking. A few of them went online and purchased their own eGo kits, and are now vaping instead of smoking. Seems like a WIN - WIN to me.

Now, others may disagree with what I did. But she is now 18 and could have purchased a setup on her own. At least I know what would be a good fit for her.

In no way do I approve of under 18 year olds vaping, nicotine or not. But once they reach adulthood, it is their decision to make.

 

[Solid]

Much rather my teenage pick up ecigs vs actual smoking. But like Baditude said I do not support underage smoking.

Just would rather like to see vaping stay with adults.

 

[MsComptrtchr]

How much do kids spend on Xboxes and Iphones? I'm sure they could find a way to feed a habit of mods and all the other stuff that comes with e-cigs. I can totally see kids wanting to tinker. But yeah, when they're 18+ . . .

 

[MrsCasey]

I don't believe that ecigs being a "safer alternative" than tobacco cigarettes is appealing to teens. Teenagers notoriously are drawn to things they are told are bad for them.

I am not a fan of the idea of anyone using electronic cigarettes unless they are using it as an alternative to their current tobacco habit. Even if they use zero Nic they could be developing a hand to mouth habit. That being said, it is obvious that most smokers started smoking cigarettes before the age of 18 and I do believe that ecigs are a safer alternative. Per the CDC's Fact Sheet on Youth & Tobacco use: More than 80% of adult smokers begin smoking before 18 years of age. I know that I wish ecigs would have been an option for me when I started smoking at the age of 14.

 

[Solid]

Well I know in my state at least hookah has sky rocketed in the past 2 years with the opening of atleast 3 insanley large hookah bars/lounges. I do know teens who hookah whilst partying or so says my niece who is 17 (yes teens that are still in highschool). So its only a matter of time before they pick up onto vaping and all the fun mods and juices involved. Which sucks especially if your a parent and doesnt want your teen getting hooked on nicotine. I think teens will love the attraction of being able to vape in between classes, in the bathroom with no smell, or on the way home from school...thus the reason why its going (if it hassnt already) spread like wild fire amongst teenagers.

Unfortunate reallity yes but so much better than the reallity of harmful carcinogines from smoking a pack of reds or newports.

 

[ennagizer]

I am not a fan of the idea of anyone using electronic cigarettes unless they are using it as an alternative to their current tobacco habit.

I agree with that.

 

[ennagizer]

Well I know in my state at least hookah has sky rocketed in the past 2 years with the opening of atleast 3 insanley large hookah bars/lounges. I do know teens who hookah whilst partying or so says my niece who is 17 (yes teens that are still in highschool). So its only a matter of time before they pick up onto vaping and all the fun mods and juices involved. Which sucks especially if your a parent and doesnt want your teen getting hooked on nicotine. I think teens will love the attraction of being able to vape in between classes, in the bathroom with no smell, or on the way home from school...thus the reason why its going (if it hassnt already) spread like wild fire amongst teenagers.

Unfortunate reallity yes but so much better than the reallity of harmful carcinogines from smoking a pack of reds or newports.

Thank you. Makes a lot of sense. I can see the attraction.

 

[Kweb]

I started smoking when I was 12 years old. I think it is naive and silly for any of us to judge. I'd rather see kids vaping than smoking any day. Neither would be great, but again- naive.

 

[Furymongerr]

i see more older aged people doing it in sw FL tbh

 

[Hokus]

I've noticed lately a lot more people vaping around where I live, a lot of them younger looking. We have a local vape shop that does card me every time I'm in there, but I don't think that would stop kids from ordering off the internet. I could see the "cool" factor that kids might see with vaping. The large clouds of vapor and all the different flavors would be a draw.

Personally, I started smoking at 13 because I thought I was cool, and if vaping was where it is today I might have taken that route instead.

On a side note about non smokers starting to vape, my grandmother who is 83 just started vaping. She never smoked a day in her life, but is allergic to chocolate. She talked to me about my different mods and such and asked about flavors. So I got her some zero nic chocolate juice and she loves it. Never leaves the house with out her ego

 

[Kamoch]

I picked up my daughter from school last week and saw a student skateboard by me vaping a cigalike, so yeah they are vaping already. AFAIK, the vape shops around my area do a good job of keeping underage kids away, but I just learned (from my daughter) that you can buy cheap e-cigs at our local swap meet.

 

[StarDose]

E cigs are relatively cheap compared to smoking here, so if they can afford to smoke vaping wouldn't be a problem since I don't see kids wanting to carry around a mod. They will probably go for cig a likes or ego twists at most which are fairly cheap.

 

[BostLabs]

I've shared this story before, and since it is relevant to this thread, it's worth repeating.

I think you are a good Dad, Baditude.