In today’s world, it often feels scary to be a parent. There are so many dangers to protect our children from, and it sometimes seems like new threats are popping up every day.

Unfortunately, some of those threats are already directly impacting our children.

If you are a parent, one of the biggest threats you need to be aware of is smoking. There are so many different substances and ways of smoking available than ever before. If you feel naive or under-informed about this threat, you are not alone. 

Becoming informed, however, is the first step to fighting back. From vaping to marijuana, here is what parents need to know about smoking.

Usage Is On the Rise

It is arguably easier for our children to begin smoking now than it ever has been in the past. From traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes to recreational and medical marijuana, the choices are abundant. Simply stated, all of these smoking options pose dangerous health risks to our children—and their use is on the rise. 

E-cigarettes, in particular, have grown in popularity with teenagers. An estimated 3.6 American middle-schoolers and high-schoolers reported using electronic cigarettes during the past year

Additionally, as marijuana becomes more easily available throughout the country, teens are also turning to various forms of cannabis to achieve a recreational high. 

Smoking Continues to Be Dangerous to Our Health

It has long been known that smoking traditional cigarettes is hazardous to our health. Disturbingly, however, society is now accepting a dangerous new misconception as truth. This myth is that e-cigarettes and marijuana are much safer to smoke and pose very few health threats.

It is true that e-cigarettes and marijuana joints do not contain a long list of extremely toxic chemicals found in traditional cigarettes. Yet, this by no means shows that vaping and smoking weed are safe, healthy alternatives to cigarettes and tobacco. 

What we, as parents, need to know about smoking is that smoking anything in any form can be potentially dangerous to our children’s health. 

E-Cigarettes

E-cigarettes were designed as a way for cigarette smokers to slowly taper off their dangerous habit. These devices contain the highly-addictive chemical nicotine but do not contain tobacco or many of the carcinogens found in regular cigarettes. Smoking electronic cigarettes is known as "vaping." 

Because nicotine is so addictive, it poses a special threat to young consumers. Our brains are developing until around the age of 25. This means that anything we expose our brains to prior to our 25th birthdays can actually change our brains. Studies show that the younger we are when first exposed to nicotine, the more likely we are to become addicted. 

Nicotine increases blood pressure and is negatively linked to heart disease. Nicotine consumption in children has also been linked to mood and attention disorders. The bottom line? Consuming nicotine in any form will cause the brain to become addicted—leading to increased intake and prolonged exposure to harmful substances. 

Marijuana 

What do parents need to know about smoking marijuana? For starters, frequent usage is associated with a higher psychosis rate. 

Recent studies conducted worldwide show a strong correlation between those who regularly smoke pot and those who have recently had psychotic episodes. Those who smoke high-potency marijuana are at an even greater risk for psychosis than those who do not.

Smoking marijuana is also linked to a slew of other health problems. These problems include difficulties with memory, mood disorders, increased heart rate, paranoia, and anxiety. 

Parent Coaching

If you are unsure about how to talk to your children about smoking, you are not alone. You may feel conflicted as you want to both keep your children close to you as well as give them space to grow.

If you are struggling with this conflict, parent coaching may be able to help. 

As a licensed clinical social worker and professional counselor, I work with parents in the Ridgefield, CT area to improve their communication skills and to provide them with strategies to talk with their children more effectively. 

If you would like to learn more about parent coaching and how it can improve your relationship with your children, do not hesitate to contact my office. Or, visit here to learn more. 

If your child is struggling with smoking, I can also provide you with information for local resources. Please, reach out to me today.