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Parent's Corner

Parent’s Corner: Vaping

Supporting Your Child Through Today’s Challenges

Welcome to the Parent Awareness Corner! At TEAM 74, we are committed to providing families with clear, supportive, and informative guidance on current trends that impact our students.

What is Vaping?

a variety of vapes


Vaping is inhaling a liquid (“vape juice”) through an electronic device. The device heats the liquid, creating an aerosol (not harmless water vapor). The aerosol is inhaled into the lungs and exhaled. Heating the liquid creates additional harmful chemicals, increasing what a person is exposed to.


Types of Vapes

  • Nicotine
  • THC (tetrahydrocannabinol)
  • Flavoring chemicals and cancer-causing chemicals
 
Some names of vapes
 
• Gen 3 Muha (THC) 
• Whole Melt (THC) 
• Mad Labs (THC) 
• Geek Bar (NIC) 
• Raz bar (NIC) 

How to Recognize Vapes

Vapes are often small and discreet, making them difficult to identify. They may look like:
  • USB or flash drives
  • Pens or highlighters
  • Small rectangular devices (like a lighter or mini phone)
  • Pods or cartridges
  • Devices with LED lights or charging ports
  • Even disguised as everyday items like water bottles

How to Talk to Your Teen About Vaping

Talking to your child starts with connection. Children are more likely to be honest, make positive choices, and open up when they feel safe talking to their parents. When discussing vaping, it's important to talk about health consequences while also staying calm, being curious, and keeping the conversation ongoing rather than making it a one-time talk. Try to listen more than you speak, creating a space where your child feels heard, not judged.

Helpful Tips

  • Stay calm
  • Be curious
  • Keep conversations ongoing
  • Listen more than you speak

What to Avoid

  • Jumping to conclusions
  • Lecturing
  • Scare tactics
  • Starting with punishment

Warning Signs of Vaping

  • Behavioral changes (Irritability, secrecy, defiance, frequent bathroom use)
  • Lack of motivation, drop in school grades
  • Loss of interest in hobbies, sports, or spending time with family and friends
  • Sweet, fruity, or unusual scents (not typical smoke smell)
  • Increased thirst or nosebleeds, lethargy
  • Coughing or shortness of breath

What’s Inside a Vape?

Most vape liquids contain a combination of substances 
such as nicotine (NIC) or THC (marijuana), along with 
flavoring chemicals and other potentially cancer-causing chemicals. The liquid typically starts with about 
6–10 base ingredients, including propylene glycol and 
vegetable glycerin. However, when these ingredients 
are heated, they break down and trigger chemical 
reactions that can produce 60 to 100 or more additional 
chemicals, increasing the number of substances a person is exposed to when vaping

Where Teens Get Vapes

  • Peers or social settings
  • Older individuals
  • Online or social media
  • Stores that don’t strictly check ID

Common Hiding Places

  • Backpacks, purses, pencil cases
  • Hoodie pockets or jackets
  • Bedroom drawers or under beds
  • Toiletry bags

Impact on the Developing Brain

  • Affects memory and learning
  • Impacts attention and concentration
  • Alters mood and emotional regulation
  • May increase anxiety or paranoia
  • Affects decision-making

If You Are Concerned

Consider reaching out for support and guidance. You 
can start by calling your child’s pediatrician to discuss 
any health concerns and next steps. It may also be 
helpful to contact your school’s counseling team to 
explore outside resources and support options for your 
child. In some cases, parents may choose to use over-the-counter urine test strips to check for nicotine or 
THC use, as part of staying informed and addressing 
the situation proactively.

Contact:
Ms. Keenan, SAPIS Counselor
718-631-6800 ext. 2150

References

  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  • U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)