Preventing Addictions in my Kid’s Life

Now that kids are back to school, parents and children face higher levels of stress due to the new normality in which we live today plus the challenges that a new school year generates by itself. Parents, who have children starting middle and high school, are who experience the greatest challenges of all, not only because of the academic difficulty, but because they are entering an environment in which youth are exposed the most to e-cigarettes.  

The use of electronic cigarettes among students has become an “epidemic” and although schools have tried to implement measures to eliminate the use of these devices, nothing has worked so far. Children who are starting middle and high school become exposed to the use of these cigarettes not long after classes have started. Students that are older or even students with the same age, who are already addicted to nicotine, end up teaching others about these devices, and worse, kids who smoke have the tendency to share their own cigarettes with nonsmoker’s students. Teenagers who are starting high school many times feel compelled to accept smoking due to peer pressure. As parents, the best way to help our children is by talking to them, educating them about the harms caused by smoking e-cigarettes and letting them know that the use of these devices can lead to death not too long after they start smoking. Youth education at an early stage is essential to prevent them to getting addicted to nicotine. If they know what an e-cigarette is and the harm it causes they will think twice before trying smoking it for the first time.    

If you as a parent need more information on this topic, you can contact us at no cost at 463-206-7373. If you need to quit smoking you can call 1.800.Quit.Now and if you have a teenager at home who needs to quit e-cigarettes they or you as a parent can text INDIANA to 88709 for free help.