Your teens & e-cigarettes

[kristin]

If you have non-smoking teenaged children, what are their views on electronic cigarettes? Do they think they are "cool?" Are they tempted by the flavors? Have they mentioned them regarding their friends?

My 19 year old has no interest in them at all. He thinks the habit of smoking is "weird," but he's glad I'm not smoking analogs anymore. But he no longer lives with me and is not exposed to them.

My 16 year old is around me all of the time. He also thinks it's great I'm off analogs, but he says the vapor smells good (as opposed to analogs) and thinks they are kind of cool in a "hooka" kind of way. He says he'd use one with the tastier flavors but definitely no nicotine. However, he says he would NOT spend his own money to buy one, lol!

He also has a teen friend who just started smoking. He recommended e-cigarettes to her, as a safer alternative, but she wasn't interested at all, either.

Any other stories?

 

[Sun Vaporer]

I can say that after a year of using these and showing them to teenagers---they have no interest and want a real cigarette. Sorry chearleaders of Tobbaco Free Kids, but "Kids" do not what an e-cig--they want the real deal from what I have scene in my experiance.


Sun

 

[kristin]

That is my suspicion, as well, Sun. I wish we could do a survey of real teens. There was that one article recently posted where the teen saw them at the mall and thought they were "cool" and went home all excited to tell his dad.

But, you have to wonder if he actually would have BOUGHT one? I don't see non-smoking teens being interested at all and smoking teens won't lay down that kind of cash or don't see the "cool" factor they do with real cigarettes.

 

[gregsgirl71]

HMMMM.... I have an 8 year old who wants one in pink with no nic.... she thinks mommy's new toy is cool.... that being said, it must also be taken into account that my daughter is a carbon copy of me and thinks everything I do she should be able to do as well.... My teen on the other hand, he isn't really all that impressed with my e-cig.... and on the whole I think a little disapointed because I no longer have butts around he can steal......

 

[Sun Vaporer]

That is my suspicion, as well, Sun. I wish we could do a survey of real teens. There was that one article recently posted where the teen saw them at the mall and thought they were "cool" and went home all excited to tell his dad.

But, you have to wonder if he actually would have BOUGHT one? I don't see non-smoking teens being interested at all and smoking teens won't lay down that kind of cash or don't see the "cool" factor they do with real cigarettes.

Kristin--I can tell you that all I get is "That is stupid" or "that looks Dumb"

LOL--but that is the truth!!


Sun

 

[angjen0816]

my brother is 16, he thinks its great that I am not smoking anymore. he thinks the e-cig is better than cigs and is trying to get other smokers to switch like his dad and our mom but he thinks its stupid to use a product thats addictive

 

[kristin]

Kristin--I can tell you that all I get is "That is stupid" or "that looks Dumb"

LOL--but that is the truth!!


Sun

Yeah, when my boys first saw it, they both said pretty much the same thing - thought it was weird & dorky (althought they say "gay" now )

 

[Sun Vaporer]

Yeah, when my boys first saw it, they both said pretty much the same thing - thought it was weird & dorky (althought they say "gay" now )

Just go into any 7-11 and wait for some "Kids" ( just of age) going to purchase cigarettes and try to make a pitch for the e-cig----they will look at you like you are an idiot and tell you where to go and demand the real thing from the cashier!!! (Rough group indeed!!!)


Sun

 

[cliff5550]

We have all ages kids, 11 to their late 20s. The ones 19 and 25 smoke but are not impressed with the old folks e-cigs. The 19 year old takes a small case and an RN4081 with him when he leaves (to save him some money) but always comes home smelling like cig smoke. The 25 year old is not interested at all. The others are glad we quit analogs but really see mom and dad's e-cigs as just "another thing they're into".

 

[AngusATAT]

I have twin girls, 17 years old. They thing the whole thing is weird, but they're just glad I'm not smoking anymore. They've been telling me I should quit for years.

 

[alsmom]

My 17 year old son is my biggest supporter and cheerleader! He has been begging me to quit smoking for quite some time. My 22 year old daughter likes it because I can hang out with her without smoking, she has asthma, and we would watch TV and I would leave to have a smoke, she would pause the TIVO, it sucked. We just watched a football game this weekend, I didn' t have to leave at all!!

 

[sherid]

My two kids, ages 21 and 16, show absolutely no interest in my ecig. They also never showed any interest, nor did they say anything, about cigarettes. Neither has ever smoked a cigarette.

 

[Luv2CUSmile]

We have 5 kids- 3 of them teenagers- none smoke and probably never will
My 13 yr old daughter has asthma and thinks the e-cigs are great! (for us)- she wants to do a project for school on them... She hates the smell of the smoke and doesn't have anything to say about vape except that "well, at least it is better than the smoke" Only "cool" thing is it is helping us quit- FINALLY!
My 18 & 16 soon to be 17 yr old.. both boys and think it's "interesting"- again "cool" in that it is helping us quit... no other thoughts other than they hope it works... never a comment about how it tastes or the LED or whatever...

Our 2 little boys (8 & 11) - think it's cool cause it has a light and it smells good- BUT, they know it is only for adults and it is to help us quit smoking real cigs... which they like... My 8 yr old is always trying to do what my husband does so he has in the past picked up cigs when we weren't careful and "pretended"- which he got swat for and we had a conversation about Mommy & Daddy being careless and making bad decisions to even start smoking... He nods and sniffles and understands Daddy having a heart attack is one thing that has already happened from cigarettes... He hasn't tried to pick up the e-cig but tries to come smell when we vape sometimes- just like cigarettes, we don't let them around it... We have not smoked inside our house for many many years... The vape may be better for us but I still, because of the "cool" factor that many kids can get from seeing an e-cig w/ pretty light... I try to keep from vaping around them... we don't go around the house much with them... I am still a garage vapor (Our garage is set up like a TV room) my husband does vape in the house but more in the bedroom, occassionally in our TV room in the house (we have a family room and a "just us" living room)- I feel if I still limit the exposure to them, they see it is a habit they won't want to pick up unless they want to be segregated from everyone... Another reason we are not all day vapers- Would never see our kids...
They get the idea is to help us quit and not another real cool thing to do...
They keep asking how long it should take to work... I tell them it will probably take some time but it is better than a regular cigarette and has already helped us to cut down a great deal. If the "habit" takes longer than we want, it will be a healthier alternative than what we have been doing- and they won't think we stink anymore either... They think that is cool-

Excuse the long post- our kids were another factor in my decision on if we should try e-cigs or not... being healthier for us but would it promote it to my kids thinking it was "cool" so they wanted to do it too...? We decided the healthier alternative and explaining to the kids what we are using them for and limiting their exposure still so they know it is something we still feel they shouldn't be around physically...

 

[angjen0816]

I did it, really, all for my son. My health sadly enough wasn't a concern to me until the day I found out I was pregnant. Now that I have him though, I want to be around to see him grow up AND I'll be damned if he ever smokes! I took my first drag when I was about 6 cause I saw mommy doing it all the time. No way!!!

 

[kristin]

I have to get a way to poll teens - I'd love to do an article disputing the "entices children" argument.

 

[BobbiBilbo]

Well, I wish e-cigs has been around while my kids were still teenagers. They are in their early/mid 20's now. One smokes, one doesn't. The older non-smoker was visiting last month. I know she was glad to see I was off analogs, but she did not miss the fact that I vape with the same 'addiction' that I smoked.

I'll be seeing my younger daughter at Thanksgiving. I'm anxious to have the opportunity introduce her to e-cigs. I'll be be taking some spare e-cigs & liquids along hoping I get her vaping.

I never wanted to see either of my girls start the smoking habit, But one did and unfortunately, I am aware of my contribution. I hope I can contribute equally to her quitting.

 

[cluster]

To know what a teen honestly thinks of e-cigarettes, the last person for him/her to discover ecigs with would be his parents, wouldn't it? i mean, not all teens are necessarily in contradiction with their parents, but it's also kind of normal at that age that they might be... basis for individuality building, and friends > parents (not really on the long run, but as far as individuality building at that moment goes.)

Teens that smoke because their parents do, often have seen them smoking since much earlier in their life. If i was a teen and my parents told me "go see this website this is so cool" i'd probably stay clear

 

[Niniane]

I have to get a way to poll teens - I'd love to do an article disputing the "entices children" argument.

You might be able to set something up at local high schools where you could pass out and collect a polling questionairre during their D.A.R.E. presentations or something. Kinda small scale and regional, but it could be a place to start at least.

On a personal note, my kids love the fact that I switched from smoking (which they HATED and which stressed them out horribly) to vaping, but they all still tell me they think getting addicted to anything in the first place is completely stupid.

 

[kristin]

I was also thinking about a Facebook poll? Maybe I should have my 16 year old post it, so his friends participate!

 

[skinnie]

I have a 33 year old daughter and let her try my 510 but she wasn't all that interested. I believe these are for people who desperatly want to quit. Teenagers aren't going to spend the money or invest the time.. easier to pinch a ciggy.