By Dr. Ed Koza
Think back to less than 15 years ago when it was common to walk out of a store or restaurant and be met with the unmistakable smell of cigarette smoke. It was a time when nearly 21 out of every 100 adults participated in this daily habit.
Today the number of smokers is down about 5 percent, mostly due to research exposing the deadly health effects 
smoking cigarettes can cause. While the numbers have gone down, West Virginia continues to rank as the highest state in the country for smoking. The percentage of adults who are smokers in West Virginia ranks at 26 percent, well above the national average of 17 percent. Even though people continue to quit smoking cigarettes, it’s not stopping them from finding other alternatives to satisfy the urge. Many are turning to e-cigarettes, which are becoming popular among adolescents.
Between 2011-2015, e-cigarette use went up 900 percent among high school students and has been the most commonly used tobacco product among both middle and high school students since 2014. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this habit is putting kids at risk for high blood pressure, irregular breathing and impaired brain development. Teens who have smoked e-cigarettes are also more than three times more likely to move on to marijuana than teens who have never tried vaping.
Although companies that make e-cigarettes say they are intended to be used for adult smokers over 21, teenagers are easily able to access the products. A 2016 study by the FDA showed 44 percent of high school-aged children in West Virginia have at least tried an e-cigarette, and the most problematic part is they are not well educated about them. A Truth Initiative Survey found that 63 percent of e-cigarette users ages 15-24 did not know that the product always contains nicotine. As a result, vapes are creating a dangerously high health risk for youth in the future.
Vaping is a topic that all parents and educators should understand and be comfortable speaking about with children. Here are a few tips for talking to others about e-cigarettes:
Understand what they know—and what they don’t know.
Discovering what adolescents already know and think about vaping can shape the rest of your conversation. Consider starting with curiosity instead of listing facts and health effects. You might ask your teen, “What is your take on e-cigarettes?” or “Do you know kids who are vaping?” Give your child practical tips and tools to say no and avoid the dangerous temptation.
Ask why before suggesting why not to do it.
Some vape for the thrill of defying authority while others do so to be considered cool in the eyes of their peers. Compact vaporizers look like flash drives and allow teenagers to easily conceal their e-cigarettes and take quick, discreet hits at home, in school hallways and even in class. The stimulant quality of nicotine can also be attractive to some teenagers and cause them to think they’re taking less of a risk by forgoing cigarettes or drugs. Also, flavors like cotton candy, blueberry and chocolate can mask the nicotine flavor.
Share your concern and answer their questions.
Teenagers can be quick to tune out adults, so you may want to avoid criticism and encourage an open dialogue. Remember, your goal is to have a conversation, not deliver a lecture. Don’t feel like you must get everything out in the open in one sitting. It’s okay for your conversation to take place over time in bits and pieces.
More than 2 million middle and high school students regularly used e-cigarettes in 2017. By having a conversation with your children, you may have the opportunity to help prevent them from joining those statistics. For more tips on how to talk to your teen about vaping and other nicotine products, talk to their pediatrician.
About the Author
Dr. Ed Koza is the chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare Mid-Atlantic, which includes West Virginia, Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
