Vaping is an increasing problem among teenagers. Below are resources for parents to help tackle vaping with their children.
Additional resources for parents
NSW Health Vaping Resources Hub
All the latest NSW Health resources on vaping.
Talking to your teen about vaping
A guide developed through research with teens to help parents better understand what teens think and how they feel about vaping.
Factsheet: Positive choices
Talking to your child about e-cigarettes and vaping:
Video: Vaping – What parents and teachers need to know
Presented by Professor Renee Bittoun. (1hr 14min).
Video: Behind the News (BTN) - The Science of Vaping
Chemists at the University of Wollongong who’s collecting vapes and taking them apart to study what’s inside and if it could be bad for people’s health. (4 min).
Video: Vaping, why are our kids doing it and what can we do about it?
Psychologists Dr Justin Coulson and Dr Lisa Damour talk about why are kids are vaping and how we as parents help them to navigate this issue.
Factsheet: E-cigarettes: What you need to know as parents
Covers what are e-cigarettes, how they work, what they look like, are they safe and what you can do as a parent.
Developed by: Cancer Council, 2020.
Alcohol and Drug Foundation Website (Australia):
Vaping amongst young people: Covers why young people are attracted to vaping and talking about vaping with young people.
Helping young people to quit vaping
Talk about it: A guide to having open conversations about alcohol and other drugs with young people.
The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne website
Covers E-cigarettes and teens, health risks, safety, when to see a doctor, recommendations for parents, key findings from poll: do parents know the dangers, podcast and video by Paediatrician Dr Anthea Rhodes.
Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia (DARTA)
Article: What parents should say when their teen says ‘But it’s not smoking‘ when they find out they are vaping.
Brain development in pre-teens and teenagers
Support and counselling lines:
- Quitline: Quitline counsellors are qualified to listen and talk through ways to quit both smoking and e-cigarettes. They can also provide advice to family and friends of people who smoke or vape and to health professionals about the best evidence for quitting. Call on 13 78 48. Available Monday – Friday 7 am – 10.30 pm, Saturday, Sunday and public holidays 9 am – 5 pm.
- Kids Help Line: Free (even from a mobile), private and confidential 24/7 phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 – 25 years. Calls 1800 55 1800.
- Drug Info and Advice Line: For facts about alcohol and other drugs, advice on how to support a loved one, and to get connected with relevant services in your state. Call 1300 85 85 84. Available Monday to Friday 9 am – 5 pm
- Parent Line NSW: Free telephone counselling and support service for parents and carers with children aged 0 – 18 years who live in NSW. Call 1300 130 052. Trained professional counsellors are available 9 am – 9 pm Monday to Friday, 4 pm – 9 pm weekends.
- NSW Mental Health Line: Links people with services for their own or someone else’s mental health. Health professionals can also contact the service to find out which services might be best for your patient/client and what options are available. Call 1800 011 511. Available free 24/7.
- Headspace: Provides expert support for mental ill health and physical health for young people and their families across Australia. Headspace provides online and phone support. You can also find the Headspace Centre closest to you.