The Reasons Why Young Teens Are Attracted to Vapes

Teens, kids, and non-smokers are at serious risk from the unknown chemicals in illegal vapes, which is what makes these products so dangerous. 

A survey by the Alcohol and Drug Foundation found that 1 in 5 young adults (aged 18 to 24) have tried vaping, with about 32% of 12 to 17-year-olds using vapes regularly. 

A survey from NSW showed that more than half of teens using disposable vapes had never even smoked before. 

Worse, there are reports of kids as young as 5 being exposed to these risky, illegal products.

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Read on to find out why vaping is becoming so popular with teenagers, and what the government is doing about it.

Experimentation

If you have a teen child or sibling, you have probably noticed how curious they can be, often eager to try new things, even when they don’t fully understand the risks. 

For many young souls out there, it’s all part of experimenting or seeking a bit of adventure, and sometimes this includes buying and using illegal vapes.

These curious teens are exactly who criminal groups are targeting, hoping to hook a whole new generation on nicotine. 

Illegal vapes are designed to look sleek and colourful, often advertised on social media, and they come in loads of flavours that really appeal to teenagers.

Boredom

Ever seen a bored group of teens willing to try something new, even if they know it’s risky, like illegal vaping? 

The thing is, younger kids and teenagers haven’t fully developed their decision-making skills yet, so they’re more likely to give things a go just to shake off boredom.

To be fair, even fully-grown adults can get tempted to try something unusual. A lot of adult smokers probably started young for the same reasons.

The people behind illegal vapes are only in it for the money, so they don’t care if they’re selling dodgy, dangerous products to kids.

These sellers are smart about marketing too, using social media and influencers to make vapes look cool and exciting to young, bored audiences.

Add in colourful packaging and fun flavours, and vaping starts to seem like a trendy and fun thing to do, which is why so many are getting hooked.

Peer Pressure

If a teenager’s group is introduced to illegal vapes, it’s usually a matter of time before each member has given it a few puffs. This is the problematic and vicious cycle of teenager vaping.

Peer pressure is a huge part of teenage friendships and relationships – it’s no secret that many young people want to feel like they belong or are ‘part of the tribe’. If they resist, they may feel at risk of seeming ‘uncool’, or even becoming alienated from their friends.

Relaxation

With more autonomy and freedom over themselves, teenagers are prone to stress and overstimulation. Some might find sports and other healthy hobbies a great outlet to reduce it.

But sometimes, other teens might try dangerous activities – illegal vaping for instance.

Another teen might have suggested trying an illicit vape to relax. It’s also likely that they saw a friend or social network influencer claim that a vaping product they’re using has helped them improve sleep or their mood.

Unfortunately, that might be all it takes to influence a stressed teen. And once they’re hooked on illegal vaping, it’s troublesome to stop – without consuming the product, they feel much more stressed.

It’s important to remember that most vapes have nicotine (even when they say they don’t) – nicotine is a highly addictive chemical that causes severe withdrawals even in the most motivated smokers who are trying to quit. 

After hours or days without consuming it, a teen who vapes again might feel a huge relief when it’s truly the actual cause of their stress and anxiety.

Can the Vaping Ban Discourage Teen and Child Vaping?

The Australian government is well aware of the increasing number of teenagers using illicit vapes nationwide, and is taking drastic steps to address it. 

In an effort to get illegal vapes off the streets, the government has announced hefty new legislation to come into effect as soon as possible, which will heavily increase enforcement and penalties, forcing these sellers even further underground.

While it’s unlikely that illegal vapes will completely disappear, they won’t be available on every convenience store’s front counter for much longer. This will help to drastically reduce ready access to these products for teens and children.

Much like it’s possible to buy hard drugs such as heroin and cocaine in Australia, it’s definitely not an easy task for most regular people, especially youths.

The Dangers of Illegal Vapes

Illicit vapes are imported under the radar, just like illicit tobacco and drugs, and are made as cheaply as possible for maximum profits. 

They’re also very dangerous. Laboratory tests have discovered that they contain high amounts of cancer-causing lead and nickel with every inhalation.

It bears mentioning that with vapes imported illegally from overseas, you simply don’t know what you’re inhaling – toxicologists are still discovering many potentially hazardous chemicals they contain daily.

If you’re a parent concerned that your child is addicted to vaping, here’s a guide to help you help them.

Summary

It goes without saying that teenagers, young children, and people with no history of tobacco addiction should have access to any vaping products. It’s important to educate the youth on the dangers of illegal vaping and nicotine addiction to ensure they’re never exposed to its dangers and become a new generation of nicotine addicts that criminal parties can profit from.

We know you’re reading this because you want to learn more about illegal vaping and its effects on teenagers. We hope this information helped.

If you’re a smoker trying to quit, we can help you with so much more.

Smokefree Clinic gives you access to many medically reviewed and trustworthy resources that can inform and aid you in your path to wellness, so have a look around! 

If you’re ready to get started, Smokefree can connect you to Australian healthcare professionals who excel in helping patients quit smoking for good.

Link Reference

• https://adf.org.au/talking-about-drugs/vaping/vaping-youth/vaping-australia/
• https://www.tobaccoinaustralia.org.au/chapter-18-e-cigarettes/18-3-extent
• https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/health/health-problems/aussie-kindergarteners-caught-in-vaping-trend-principal-claims/news-story/ee3b6b89457c9e6e089b535abe89170b
• https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/32/e2/e184
• https://extensionpublications.unl.edu/assets/pdf/g1751.pdf
• https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/may/03/australia-vaping-ban-import-vape-vapes-crackdown-what-we-know-and-dont-know-so-far
• https://www.bbc.com/news/health-65614078