Vaping prevention is a priority for Volusia County as we work to enhance the wellbeing of our youth. Learn information about the negative effects of vaping on the health and development of a young person and review youth information and perspectives, parent and caregiver resources, and quitting vaping tools.
What to Know about Vaping
Vaping, e-cigarettes, and electronic device systems have not been deemed safe by any regulatory agency and have not been proven as a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes or tobacco. In fact, vape devices often contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance, and people may not know the levels of nicotine in their product, leading to poisoning. Even more alarming is that illicit and harmful substances may be present in vapes, and those who use them may not be aware of the potential danger.
Regardless of the delivery method, nicotine is an addictive substance. In youth, nicotine impacts brain development and can create negative long-term health effects.
Health Considerations
What is EVALI or popcorn lung? These medical conditions are connected to vaping. EVALI is E-cigarette, or vaping, produce use-associated lung injury. Popcorn lung is also known as bronchiolitis obliterans and is an inflammation in the lungs. Popcorn lung causes scaring and is not reversable. Both are long-term health consequences of vaping, especially for the developing lungs of youth.
In addition to medical conditions, vaping is also known to negatively impact mental wellbeing, sleep, and our environment.
- A Doctor’s Warning About the Dangers of Vaping, Mayo Clinic Health System
- Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults, CDC
- Tobacco, E-Cigarettes, and Vaping, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Youth Views on Vaping Prevention
As a young person, you want to know what other people your age think and feel about vaping. Check out these resources to hear their views. Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) Florida uses the tagline, Not A Lab Rat, to show that youth refuse to allow corporations to experiment on them. Click below for other youth resources.
- E-cigarettes & Vaping: What Teens Should Know, American Lung Association
- My Vaping Mistake: How it Affected My Mental Health video, AwesomenessTV
- Not For Me, American Lung Association
- Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) Florida
- Smoke Free Teen
- The Truth
- Tobacco Free Florida
- Tobacco Free Volusia
Vaping Prevention for Parents & Caregivers
Parents, caregivers, family, and friends, please learn about the dangers of vaping especially for our youth. Be open to having honest conversations with your young person and encourage them to protect themselves from harmful substances found in vapes, e-cigarettes, and other nicotine products.
Often times, youth are targeted with fun and catchy vape flavorings and cool-looking devices. Young people may assume products are safe because it’s marketed to their likes and preferences and readily available.
- CATCH My Breath Parent Video Resources and Parent Toolkits Grades K-4 and 5-12, CATCH My Breath
- How to Identify Signs of Youth Vaping and Nicotine Addiction video, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Pediatrician’s Overview of E-Cigarette Use or Vaping video, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Resources for Parents, Parents Against Vaping E-Cigs (PAVE)
- Talk to Your Child About Vaping, American Lung Association
- Talk. They Hear You. Talking with Your Teen About Vaping: Keeping Your Kids Safe – Parent Brochure (can download and print), Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
Quit Vaping with Support
As people stop vaping, support and understanding are important, and there are opportunities to seek help and guidance.
- 1-855-DEJELO-YA (recursos en español para dejar de fumar)
- Asian Smokers’ Quitline (1-800-838-8917 – Cantonese and Mandarin; 1-800-556-5564 – Korean; and 1-800-778-8440 – Vietnamese)
- DipfreeTXT
- Quit Vaping
- Smoke Free and Smoke Free Español
- SmokefreeTXT for Teens
- The Truth (text DITCHVAPE to 88709 or enter your phone number)
- This is Quitting
- Tobacco Free Florida AHEC Cessation Program
For people over the age of 18, you can use these same resources and can call the Florida Quit Line at 1-877-822-6669.
One Voice for Volusia does not endorse these organizations and instead shares the information and content as educational tools for our community members.