What you need to know about teens and vaping. Podcast sheds light on vital health topic for parents.

Did you know that vaping use among teens is nearly twice as high in Douglas County compared to the rest of the country?

According to the Centers for Disease Control, e-cigarette and vaping use among middle and high school students is 5.8% nationwide, but Douglas County’s Community Health Survey shows it’s closer to 12.2% locally. That’s why the Douglas County Health Department is working to share information with parents, schools and other community leaders to help them start conversations with youth about vaping, nicotine use and the impact they can have on a young person’s health.

Douglas County Community Health Community Educators, Ashley Scollard and Alissa Huff sat down with Jason Hopcus, President/CEO of THE National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for Arapahoe/Douglas Counties, for a discussion around teen vaping on the Nobody’s Perfect Podcast.

“The trouble is that these products were marketed as a safe alternative to smoking, and teens may not understand the harm or the addictive nature when they try their friend’s pen. Fun flavors target young people and smart vapes even come with electronic games on the device that make them attractive to teens,” shared Ashley Scollard.

Vapes are often thought of as water vapors, however, they typically contain 30 chemicals that cause short- and long-term health impacts. Many vape products contain extremely high levels of nicotine, which can rewire a teen’s developing brain, making them more susceptible to long-term addiction. Nicotine exposure at a young age can also lead to mood disorders, attention issues, and increased depression.

The most alarming fact may be that teen vaping is easy to conceal.

Alissa Huff shared, “There are companies that market discrete delivery on TikTok so that your parents won’t know that you ordered a vape pen online. Vape pens can be disguised as hoodies, pens, highlighters, or water bottles so it can be difficult for parents to recognize when their child is vaping.”

What can parents and families do? Your Douglas County Health Department has collected a variety of resources to support teens and their families. Additionally, Douglas County offers free Quit-Kits that can support anyone trying to kick an addiction.

“It’s so vitally important that we as parents and as adult role models connect with our youth on tough issues, like vaping and opioid use,” said Commissioner Abe Laydon, who represents the Board of Douglas County Commissioners on the Douglas County Youth Initiative and is chair of the Region 12 Opioid Abatement Council. “We have resources, like quit kits, that can help with those conversations, but it’s a trusted adult that will be able to change a life.”

Connecting with the young people in your life to discuss these topics, whether you’re a family member, teacher, coach, or anyone else with a meaningful relationship with a young person, can influence their decision to make a healthier choice. The Douglas County Health Department is also collaborating with School Resource Officers, the Care Compact Program and the WIC program to get the word out about the dangers of youth vaping and provide Quit-Kits.

“We need to continue to have these conversations that make us more aware of the challenges our youth are tackling. We are recognizing that taking about these issues and listening to our youth can lead to greater outcomes for everyone,” shared Hopcus.

“Nobody’s Perfect” is a podcast that speaks directly to the hearts and minds of Colorado’s youth and families. Powered by NAMI Arapahoe/Douglas Counties and NAMI Colorado, their mission is simple, yet powerful: to empower, provide support, encourage collaboration, and raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing. Listen to this episode and more wherever you get your podcasts.