Health officials are calling the rising number of kids using e-cigarettes an 'epidemic' across the country.
A preliminary survey by the University of Nevada shows a similar trend right here in Nevada. The good news is that we have seen a decrease in the amount of kids who try cigarettes, but the number of younger kids who have tried vaping has gone up.
"Rates of e-cigarette and vaping products continue to be pretty level at the high school level, but we see at the middle school level even more kids are using those products," Kelli Goatley-Seals, the Health Educator Coordinator for Washoe County Health District said.
The preliminary report from the Nevada Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows the percentage of high school students who have tried e-cigarettes has stayed about the same, going from about 43 to 44 percent, but for middle school students, it grew from about 19 to 23 percent.
Officials attribute this to the different flavors of e-juice, saying they are geared more towards children. They say kids are also more easily able to hide their vaping habits from their parents.
“They are making them into all kinds of different stuff, there's actually clothing that you can buy with it manufactured in where you can just pull the little tube out of the collar and give it a puff. Kids are doing all kinds of stuff to hide it and be able to do it at school," said Rick Stone, Drug Awareness Chairman with the Nevada Elks Association.
For parents, there are a few warning signs to look out for if you think your child is vaping.
"Unusual behaviors such as irritability, sleeping patterns changing, those can be some withdrawal symptoms of nicotine. And then any odd gadgets around the house," said Brinn Wallace, the Clinical Director with Quest Council.
Those gadgets can look similar to key chains, or even USB drives like the Juul style of vape pen. Sometimes it's not just nicotine in those devices.
The survey found high school students that have tried marijuana by vaporizing it were around two percent in 2017 and were up to 14 percent in 2019, and for middle school students it went from a little over two percent to 11 percent. If you are a parent with a child who may be vaping or using marijuana, the first thing that officials suggest is to open up a line of communication.
"We all know this is a hard thing to stop doing, quitting any behavior, and making a change is hard for us. I would really suggest open and honesty in that conversation, and open up to your child," said Wallace.
"When a teen has been using these products, it may be that they are addicted, and there are resources out there for teens to stop," said Goatley-Seals.
For more information for both parents and teens about quitting smoking or vaping, you can click here for My Live My Quit, or here for information and resources from the Elks Association.
