Vapes don’t always look like vapes.
“This newest one, it looks like a Blackberry on steroids.“
Vicki Kavanaugh is a substance use prevention expert with Talksooner, a non-profit serving behavioral and mental health needs in West Michigan.
She says some vapes are now equipped with video games similar to Pac-man or Fortnight or have texting and calling capabilities.
“Yes, you can text on it. You can position it in your hand, so the mouthpiece is hidden, and it just looks like you’re texting. It doesn’t look like you’re vaping.”
These entertaining features can make them more attractive to teens, along with their low cost – some under $20.
“It does look like fun, and when it has 20,000 puffs, it encourages that all-day vaping so you’re constantly getting a hit of nicotine. It’s just one more way they’re marketing to our youth.”
In Michigan, anyone under age 21 is prohibited from buying or using vapor products Kavanaugh suggests these new products offer an opportunity for parents to talk with their kids about vaping and other substance use by asking questions.
“What do you think of this? Have you seen anything like that? And those questions naturally lead you to a more in-depth conversation about vaping and about using substances.”
Other tips for having those conversations with younger children include talking about avoiding drugs as part of a general discussion on healthy choices.
Talksooner offers a series of talking tips for parents of children of any age/stage of development: https://talksooner.org/talking-tips.
