This week marked the 42nd year of the Great American Smoke Out,  an event sponsored by the American Cancer Society. Originally conceived to draw attention to the health impacts of cigarette smoking and exposure to second hand smoke and to encourage people to stop smoking, this concept has taken on new importance with the rise in vaping, particularly among teens. 

The rise in numbers of teens who report vaping and of vape related lung illnesses shows that the allure of vape products and the addictive properties of nicotine has created a public health crisis much like that of the traditional tobacco products of the 1970s. So the Great American Smoke Out presents a great opportunity to talk to your teens (or others) about how to quit vaping. 

Anyone who has ever experienced nicotine addiction knows that a cold turkey approach is difficult, if not impossible. Many well meaning parents who simply demand that their children stop when caught vaping may be setting an unrealistic expectation which can lead to failure and a resumption of the harmful activity they were trying to prevent. How can a parent help their teen to stop vaping? Helping your child to create a cessation plan can be a great way to help them kick the habit for good. For some pointers and things to consider with your child, review the Had Enough? – Quitting Vaping guide put together by Greeley Student Assistance Counselor Carolyn D’Agostino using resources from smokefree.gov. It contains lots of helpful suggestions and resources for topics like dealing with cravings and nicotine withdrawal, understanding your vaping triggers and how to stay committed to quitting. 

Perhaps most importantly, know that there are teen-friendly resources to help stop vaping – teens can download the quitSTART app or can try text support with SmokefreeTXT by signing up online or by texting QUIT to 47848.