Tackling teen vaping. Imagine trying to quit vaping—it’s no walk in the park. Just ask Samantha Odo and her 18-year-old son. They’ve been experimenting with ways to kick the habit, and let’s be real, it’s been tough. But they’ve found some tricks, like keeping busy and having supportive friends, that help.
Samantha’s son is on this quitting journey for a bunch of reasons—health concerns about vaping, wanting to save cash for a car, you name it. And hey, having mom cheering him on makes a big difference. They’re learning the ropes together, step by step.
Hunting for Help
They’re not alone. Lots of folks out there, like them, are trying to figure out how to ditch nicotine and stay away from vaping. But guess what? Researchers might just have some helpful tips soon.
The Aussie government is backing research to help teens say no to vaping. They’re putting $2.2 million into figuring out how to stop young peeps from vaping and understanding what makes them stop, too.
Dr. Stockings’ Plan
Dr. Emily Stockings from the University of Sydney has snagged $1.5 million for her project. She’s teaming up with young folks (almost 20,000 of them!) to design cool tools that can stop or cut down vaping. And they’re not just asking questions; they’re keeping tabs on how vaping habits change over time. Smart move, right?
The Vaping Puzzle
Dr. Stockings wants to crack the code on new vape stuff hitting the market, where kids get their hands on vapes, and if vaping might lead to smoking.
See, here’s the thing: some worry that if it’s harder to vape, peeps might switch to cigarettes. And apparently, if you vape, you’re more likely to pick up smoking. Yikes.
Fighting the Vape Wave
Understanding why young people vape is key to stopping it. Dr. Stockings and her crew aim to give teens the tools to shut down vaping temptations. They’re focusing on groups at risk, like Indigenous youth and those in less well-off areas.
Social Media’s Role
Social media is a big player in this game, says Dr. Carmen Chia Wern Lim from the University of Queensland. She’s getting $660,000 to dive into how social media influences teens to vape.
Those influencers online? Yeah, they’re a big deal. Turns out, what they say can sway young minds. Dr. Lim wants to figure out what’s pushing teens toward vaping on these platforms and how to stop it.
Parental Influence
Turns out, if mom or dad smoked or vaped, their kid might be more likely to vape too. That’s what a study found—teens see vaping as less risky than their parents do. It’s a big factor in whether they pick up vaping.
Hurdles to Clear
Dr. Lim says it’s not just about what’s online—store locations and how easy it is to grab vapes also play a role. But she’s worried. There’s a ton of pro-vaping stuff online, and most of it doesn’t even have age restrictions.
The Bottom Line
Stopping teens from vaping is a big deal. There are lots of factors—peer pressure, social media, even where stores put their stuff—that make it tough. But these researchers are digging in to find ways to help teens say no to vaping, and that’s a win for everyone’s health.