Vaping & E-Cigarettes - Center Grove Community School Corporation

CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
PARENT RESOURCES

VAPING, E-CIGARETTES, AND TOBACCO PREVENTION

While cigarette smoking among teens continues to decline, vaping and e-cigarette use remain a concern, including here at Center Grove.

Many students try vaping because they’re curious, see friends using, or are drawn to flavors like fruit, candy, or mint. Some believe vaping helps relieve stress or that it’s safer than smoking, but that’s not true.

56.4% of middle school youth are using flavored products and 75% of high school students are using them also.

Even though teen vaping rates have dropped in recent years, the products themselves have evolved, and so has nicotine delivery. Many modern vape devices deliver high levels of nicotine, increasing the risk of addiction and health problems.

HEALTH IMPACT

Nicotine is especially harmful for young people. Vaping exposes teens to many of the same toxic substances that make traditional smoking so dangerous.

The brain continues developing through the mid-20s, and nicotine use during adolescence can:

Disrupt brain circuits that control attention, learning, and memory
Increase the risk of addiction to nicotine and other substances
Affect mood and impulse control

The aerosol from e-cigarettes is not harmless. It can contain:

Nicotine
Ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deeply into the lungs
Flavoring chemicals such as diacetyl (linked to a lung disease known as “popcorn lung”)
Heavy metals like nickel, tin, and lead

RECOGNIZING THE RISKS

More than 3 in 5 Hoosier middle school youth strongly agreed that all tobacco products are dangerous and more than 1 in 2 Hoosier high school youth strongly agreed that all tobacco products are dangerous

Parents should be aware of common signs that a teen may be vaping:

Unexplained sweet or fruity scents
Increased thirst or nosebleeds (from dehydration caused by vaping)
Unfamiliar tech items such as USB-shaped devices or disposable cartridges
Mood changes like irritability, restlessness, or anxiety

If you suspect your teen is vaping, start the conversation calmly. Ask open questions and listen. Your support and understanding matter most.

NICOTINE POISONING

Doctors advise parents to watch for signs of nicotine poisoning in underage kids.

Users largely report use of fruity and sweet flavors, masking the harshness of the nicotine and giving the illusion of being harmless.
Nicotine is as addictive as heroin and cocaine.

Some of the reported signs include:

Eyes: Irritation, abrasion, pain, redness, blurred vision
Head: Headache, agitation, drowsiness, dizziness, excessive salivation
Skin: Pallor, sweating
Abdomen: Pain, nausea, vomiting
Other: High blood pressure, increased heart rate, lack of coordination, twitching, tremor

WHAT PARENTS CAN DO

Start the conversation: Ask open-ended questions and offer support while actively listening.
Know the products: Many vaping devices look like pens, USB drives, or highlighters.
Set clear expectations: Let your teen know vaping isn’t harmless, even if “everyone’s doing it.”

If you suspect your teen is vaping, you can use the resources on this page for more information on how to help them.

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CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
PARENT RESOURCES

VAPING, E-CIGARETTES, AND TOBACCO PREVENTION

HEALTH IMPACT

RECOGNIZING THE RISKS

NICOTINE POISONING

WHAT PARENTS CAN DO

Additional Information

CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION PARENT RESOURCES

VAPING, E-CIGARETTES, AND TOBACCO PREVENTION

Additional Information

CENTER GROVE COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORPORATION
PARENT RESOURCES