Student Support

 

 

Signs Your Child May Be Vaping          

Unexplained sweet smell

Vapor produced by e-cigarettes can be either odorless or scented. The e-liquid, also known as e-juice, comes in a variety of enticing flavors such as Gummi Bear, Berry, and Watermelon, that many teens are eager to try. If you notice a sweet scent that is unexplainable, it might require further investigation.

Pens and USB Drives that Don’t Look Normal

E-cigs come in many forms. They can resemble tobacco cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. The most common e-cigs among teens are JUULs (sleek devices that resemble a USB flash drive) and vape pens which resemble traditional pens. If you come across an unusual looking pen or USB drive, often with holes on each end, chances are it’s a vaping device and not a typical pen or USB drive.

 

Skipping the Caffeine

Some e-cig users suddenly find themselves developing sensitivity to caffeine. Vaping plus caffeine can cause anxiety and severe mood swings. Most users will decrease their caffeine intake to avoid these side effects. If your teen used drink coffee regularly or energy drinks, and is now suddenly passing on their favorite caffeinated drinks, this could be a red flag.

 

Increased Thirst

Dehydration, often described by vapers as dry or cottonmouth, is actually a fairly common side effect of vaping. The e-liquid has been shown to absorb and hold in water molecules, preventing them from being absorbed into the body. If you notice your teen drinking more than they typically do or you happen to notice other signs of dehydration such as dark circles under their eyes, you may want to dive a little deeper to determine the cause.

 

Nosebleeds

Typically, when a person vapes they exhale the vapor through their nose which can cause the inside of their nostrils to become dried, triggering random nosebleeds. The chemical in the e-liquid is a dehydrating chemical that strips the moisture from the inside of the nose. If your child is suddenly experiencing nosebleeds, it probably deserves more attention to determine the cause.

 

Bloody Sores in the Mouth / Smoker’s Cough

Researchers are now linking e-cigs with mouth wounds that won’t heal and smoker’s cough. The vapors disrupt the immune system which can have harsh effects on human cells. Keep your eye on your child if they complain of sores in their mouth or begin to show signs of an unexplained cough. 

 

Unfamiliar Batteries and Chargers

While some vape pens can be charged with a simple USB cable, most require batteries. And, since an e-cig vape pen battery typically only lasts two hours with constant use, the battery needs to be charged regularly. If you find an unfamiliar battery or battery charging device, this could serve as another red flag that your child may be vaping.

 

 

Finding Organic Cotton Balls and Metallic Wires

If you stumble across any unbleached, organic cotton balls or thin metallic coils, which are components used when vaping, it’s typically a sign that your child is vaping.

 

Discarded Juul Pods

While most teens consider JUULs “cool,” rising concern over their high nicotine content has many parents concerned. To use a JUUL, users purchase JUUL “pods.” As the name suggests, the pod systems are e-cigs that make use of a pod as opposed to a traditional atomizer, although they pretty much serve the same function. If you happen to see discarded JUUL pods in your child’s backpack, bedroom, pockets or elsewhere, there is reason for concern.

 

 

Discarded Atomizers

The atomizer is an important part of any e-cig. It’s the component of the e-cig that turns the e-liquid into vapor. The atomizers don’t last forever and eventually need to be discarded. If you come across a discarded atomizer in your child’s room, it can be a good indication that your child has been vaping.

 

 

Vaping Illness: What Students Need to Know 

About 400 people across 36 states in the U.S. have become seriously ill and at least six have died in recent weeks from an illness linked to vaping. We want students and families to know the facts and stay safe: 

Young, healthy people are getting very sick. This illness is disproportionately affecting teens: at least half of the patients are younger than 19, and most were otherwise healthy. The illness has made them sick enough to require intensive care, with nearly a quarter of the patients in California needing a breathing tube and mechanical ventilator to keep breathing. 

We don't know what device or ingredient is causing the illness. Patients have used different types of devices and difference substances-including nicotine, cannabis, and others. Anything people vape includes a range of chemicals, and investigators do not yet know which of these chemicals or which type of device is causing the illness. Some patients report they have vaped only a few times, while others have vaped for years. 

If you don't vape, don't start. It's not harmless. 

If you vape, it's wise to stop now. Because investigators do not know what is causing this illness, it is impossible to say that any substance or device is safe right now. (This immediate risk is in addition to the known long-term damage that vaping chemicals cause.) 

You can get help to quit. Resources are out there specifically for teens. Talk to your doctor, school nurse or counselor. Or text QUIT to 202-804-9884, call 877-44U-QUIT, download the free quitStart app from the Apple Store or Google Play, or visit teen.smokefree.gov. 

Get medical help if you see signs of serious illness. Signs and symptoms include: 

• Cough, chest pain, shortness of breath
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
• Fatigue, fever, weight loss

In some patients, these symptoms come on quickly within a few days; in others, they develop over a few weeks. If you experience these symptoms in the weeks after vaping, talk to your doctor and tell them you've vaped. If you can, bring along the things you vaped - that will help the investigation. 

Look out for your friends. Encourage them to stay safe, stop vaping, and seek medical help if they become sick. 

For the latest updates on this investigation, visit:https://www.cdc.gov/

‘Enfermedad de Vapeo: Lo que los Estudiantes Deben Saber

Alrededor de 400 personas en 36 estados de los EE. UU. se han enfermado gravemente y al menos seis han muerto en las últimas semanas a causa de una enfermedad relacionada con el vapeo. Queremos que los estudiantes y las familias sepan la verdad y se mantengan seguros:

Personas jóvenes y sanas se están enfermando mucho. Esta enfermedad está afectando desproporcionadamente a los adolescentes: al menos la mitad de los pacientes son menores de 19 años y la mayoría eran saludables. La enfermedad los ha enfermado lo suficiente como para requerir cuidados intensivos, y casi una cuarta parte de los pacientes en California necesitan tubo de respiración y ventilador mecánico para seguir respirando.

No sabemos qué dispositivo o ingrediente está causando la enfermedad. Los pacientes han usado diferentes tipos de dispositivos y diferentes sustancias, incluida la nicotina, el cannabis y otros. Cualquier cosa que las personas utilicen incluye una variedad de productos químicos, y los investigadores aún no saben cuál de estos productos químicos o qué tipo de dispositivo está causando la enfermedad. Algunos pacientes informan que vapearon sólo unas pocas veces, mientras que otros lo han hecho durante años.

Si no vapeas, no comiences. No es inofensivo

Si vapeas, es aconsejable dejar de hacerlo ya. Debido a que los investigadores no saben qué está causando esta enfermedad, es imposible decir que alguna sustancia o dispositivo es seguro en este momento. (Este riesgo inmediato se suma al daño conocido a largo plazo que causan los productos químicos de vapeo).

Busque ayuda para dejar de fumar. Hay recursos disponibles específicamente para adolescentes. Hable con su médico, enfermera escolar o consejero. O envíe un mensaje de texto con el mensaje QUIT al 202-804-9884, llame al 877-44U-QUIT, descargue la aplicación gratuita quitStart de Apple Store o Google Play, o visite teen.smokefree.gov.

Acuda a recibir ayuda médica si ve signos de enfermedad grave. Los signos y síntomas incluyen:

• Tos, dolor en el pecho, dificultad para respirar.
• Náuseas, vómitos, diarrea.
• Fatiga, fiebre, pérdida de peso 

En algunos pacientes, estos síntomas aparecen rápidamente en unos pocos días; en otros, se desarrollan en unas pocas semanas. Si experimenta estos síntomas en las semanas después de vapear, hable con su médico y dígale que ha vapeado. Si puede, traiga las cosas que usó para vapear, eso ayudará a la investigación.

Esté atento a sus amigos. Aliéntelos a mantenerse a salvo, deje de vapear y busque ayuda médica si se enferma.

Para obtener las últimas actualizaciones sobre esta investigación, visite https://www.cdc.gov/