Episode #230: Why is Vaping Bad for Teens & Kids–Addiction Facts & How to Help

My guests this week are Dorian Fuhrman and Meredith Berkman.

In this episode, Dorian, Meredith, and I discuss vaping and e-cigarettes. Kids and teens vaping is something is becoming a more widespread problem among younger and younger kids. While it initially was touted as a safer version of smoking, this has been marketed to kids as risk free and fun, the reality is very different. We now know that vaping carries a significant number of health risks, and leads kids on a path toward addictive behavior and substance use that can be difficult to break.  Whether you are already aware of this issue or not, it’s an important one to have on your radar, regardless of your child's age. I’ve invited the co-founders of Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes (PAVe), Dorian and Meredith, on the show to help us better understand the issue, the risks involved, how they are working to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products, and most importantly, how to talk with your kids about it.

Dorian and Meredith are two of the co-founders of Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes , PAVe for short, a national grassroots education and advocacy organization. They founded PAVe as a response to the youth vaping epidemic, and when they discovered that a Juul representative had spoken to their son's ninth grade class and told them it was totally safe and about to get FDA approval. They testified about this incident in Congress. Today, PAVe has volunteers around the country, educating parents about the dangers of flavored e-cigarette products, and advocating to end the sale of all flavored tobacco products.

Connect with Dorian Fuhrman and Meredith Berkman:

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Episode Takeaways

Episode Intro … 00:00:30

Introduction to Dorian & Meredith from PAVe … 00:01:52

Advocating to End the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products … 00:06:20

What is Vaping & Targeting Youth … 00:09:27

Wellness Vapes, Flavors & Nicotine are Equally Harmful … 00:16:23

The Safety & Medical Concerns of Vaping … 00:20:32

Zero Portion Control with Vaping Compounds Addiction … 00:25:40 

Health Complications, Underlying Contributor is Vaping … 00:31:55

Addicted Kids Are Often Desperate to Unburden Themselves … 00:34:05

How Can Parents Talk About Vaping with Kids … 00:38:30

A Punitive Approach Only Makes it Worse … 00:41:42

Education & Support for Parents & Educators … 00:46:35

PAVe and Other Resources … 00:47:40

Episode Wrap Up … 00:49:45

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