From the CEO: How Parents Can Talk to Children About Vaping Risks

In case you were not aware, I want to let you know that a large number of young people continue to vape.

While youth e-cigarette use has declined since peaking in 2019, the percentage of young people aged 12 to 17 who vaped nicotine in the past month showed little to no change from 2022 to 2025.

Specifically, 6.3 percent or 1.6 million young people vaped nicotine in the past month during 2025, and e-cigarettes remain the most commonly used tobacco products among teens. 

Why Parents Should Talk to Their Children About Vaping 

Medical risks associated with vaping remain, despite marketing that may pitch them as a “safe” alternative to traditional cigarettes. Most vapes “emit numerous potentially toxic substances,” according to a comprehensive 2018 consensus report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, and the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes are not yet clear. 
 
There may also be mental health risks. A 2025 study in the journal Tobacco Control said vaping may be linked to adverse mental health outcomes and that those who quit “experience fewer urges to vape, reduced anxiety, and stabilized mood.” 
 
As they navigate the pressures that come with going back to school, youth may also face pressure to vape. Thoughtful conversations with young people, and listening to what they are experiencing, are the best ways to support them in their journey.

How to Start Conversations About Vaping With Your Child

While young people are the ones returning to school, adults have something to learn. Young people know their stressors and supports best, and one thing we’ve learned from youth is that when it comes to conversations about substance use and recovery is that how we talk to them is just as important as what we say.

That was one of the most important takeaways in the resource we published in April, In Their Own Words. This resource focuses on what young people want adults to know about vaping.

Recovery Month Resources and Events for Parents

So, as we observe Recovery Month throughout September, it’s important that adults engage in discussions with young people appropriately. For instance, a judgmental approach will not work because young people do not want – or deserve – to be shamed for vaping.

As tangible tips, adults can: 

• Start conversations early – before young people feel pressure to vape.
• Remind young people that vapes are not a “safe” alternative to cigarettes, despite marketing tactics that may try to convince them otherwise.
• Reduce the shame and stigma by normalizing the conversation about vaping.  

Meaningful conversations with young people about vaping and substance use can build trust and help them feel supported in navigating stress and choices around substances.

Check out all our Recovery Month resources. We’ll also host a webinar, National Recovery Month Virtual Event: Recognizing Addiction Transfer in Recovery on September 15.