Vaping

When it comes to talking to children and young people about vaping, approach the conversation calmly. Try to listen, ask open questions and resist the urge to lecture or judge. Approach in an informal way, in a casual environment, such as when watching tv together, driving or shopping.

Make sure you know the facts before talking to your kids about vaping. That way you can have a constructive, informed conversation. Think about how you want to phrase questions and anticipate your response to what your teen might say. As well as the information on this page, Quit and VicHealth have created an online hub with vaping information for parents and carers of young people. Visit the Get the facts on vaping website  to learn more about e-cigarettes and discussing the risks of vaping with young people. 

It’s important not to exaggerate statements and to be honest with your teen. Focus on your care and concern for their health, and stick to the evidence. 

It may be hard, but it’s important to respect their privacy and avoid pushing areas of the conversation they are not comfortable discussing. 

Being genuine and ‘real’ is crucial to building trust and creating a safe environment for your teen to talk openly. 

It’s important to recognise that if your child has started vaping they may already have developed a dependence. This makes quitting important, but hard. They will need all the support they can get.    

You may try reaching out to other parents of teenagers for support and advice.  

You can also call Quitline (13 7848) for free advice. Quitline counsellors can answer any questions you may have about e-cigarettes and can help you think of ways to approach the conversation. 
 

• If your teenager or young person wants help to quit vaping, they can have a confidential, live chat with a Quitline counsellor at quit.org.au.
• If you’re a parent or carer of a young person, visit the Get the facts on vaping website  from Quit and VicHealth to learn more about e-cigarettes and discussing vaping with young people. 

• Around 2 in 3 (64%) young people were concerned about the impact of vaping on the mental health of their friends and peers 
• Almost 2 in 3 (63%) young people said they know someone who is dependent on vaping
• Just over 1 in 3 (38%) young people know where to seek support for vaping
• Just 1 in 3 young people understand the toxic chemicals found in e-cigarettes.  

Sacrificing children for profits

The dangers of e-cigarettes are very scary and real – multinational tobacco and vaping companies are using sneaky digital marketing tactics to directly target teenagers and young people through social media to drive sales. And it’s our children who suffer as a result. 

Most young people who use e-cigarettes have never used traditional cigarettes. But we also know young people who vape are three times as likely to go on to use traditional cigarettes. 

What marketing tactics are big tobacco and vaping companies using on our kids?

The toxic fumes from e-cigarettes are dangerous and don’t belong in our lungs.

The vaping and tobacco industry is using every trick in the book to hook a new generation of Australians on these highly addictive products, such as: 

• Product design: Producing e-cigarettes with sweet flavours, such as cola ice and candy floss, and creating devices that are brightly coloured and with discrete packaging, designed in ways that appeal to young people. 

• Marketing: Using social media extensively to market and sell vaping products to young people, with vape challenges promoted across TikTok and YouTube. This content is often sponsored by tobacco and e-cigarette companies and endorsed by influencers with large social media followings. 

• Labelling: Mislabeling nicotine e-cigarettes as ‘non-nicotine’ so they are easily available at convenience stores and online without a doctor’s prescription.