Vaping - Support and Tips for Parents

Know the facts 

The Vaping Facts website has easy to understand information about vaping, and the most up-to-date, relevant research about vaping and smoking in New Zealand. It is brought to you by the Ministry of Health and Te Whatu Ora. 

Find the right moment 

Take advantage of situations where you can talk about vaping. Opportunities may present themselves, for example when you: 

• see someone vaping 
• get information from school about vaping 
• walk past a vape shop 
• hear or read a media item on vaping. 

Have conversations 

Ask open-ended questions. It shows you are interested in them, it helps them talk, express themselves, and figure stuff out, and it helps you know how to help them. Here are some examples that you could adjust according to the situation, the age of the teen, and the relationship you have with them: click here for Useful Questions to ask sad/worried/mad kids and teens. 

Be patient and prepared to listen 

Ask what they know about vaping, clear up any misconceptions they might have, and offer the information you read on the Vaping Facts website. 

Talk about the different factors that might entice teens to try it, for example, wanting to fit in, curiosity, stress. Talk through, and practice together, effective ways to respond if they ever feel pressured to try it. 

If your teen is vaping, try to understand why they are vaping by asking questions like “What do you enjoy about vaping?” Or “How does vaping make you feel?” Understanding this might help you to understand their needs and discuss other ways to meet those needs. 

Convey your expectations 

Let them know your understanding of the risks, but also why a person might vape. If your child is vaping or has vaped, find out why. Discuss options for dealing with the factors that motivated them to vape. 

Share why you don’t want your child to vape. Talk about the risks of vaping and the negative impacts of nicotine addiction on their health, finances, and relationships (Nicotine and vaping | Vaping Facts). Let them know you care about them and their health and wellbeing. The risks associated with long-term vaping are unknown. While vaping is less harmful than smoking it is unlikely to be totally harm free. Ideally, smokers who are vaping to quit should look to eventually stop vaping too. If your child isn’t a smoker wanting to quit, it is unwise for them to start vaping. 

Useful websites 

The New Zealand Drug Foundation’s conversation planner is a useful guide for how to have supportive conversations with your child about substance use. The KidsHealth website also has helpful information.

Find time to talk 

Talk to your children about vaping. This How to talk to your teen page has useful tips on finding the right moment, what to ask and how to respond. 

Treat vaping situations (such as vape shops or advertisements) as learning opportunities to ask them what they know, what they think, and how they feel.