3 Questions Linn County Middle School Students Ask about Vaping

The Linn County Alcohol and Drug Prevention Program has provided substance use prevention classes in Linn County schools for over 20 years. We asked instructors Ashley LeFever, Sarah Daniels, and Shannon Snair to share common questions middle school students have about vaping, and how to answer them.

Is vaping safe if it doesn’t contain nicotine?

Great question! Most vapes have nicotine, even if they say “nicotine-free.” Some actually have more nicotine than a regular cigarette! The FDA doesn’t control vapes, so we can’t always be sure how much nicotine is in them. One study found that some “nicotine-free” e-liquids still had small amounts of nicotine.*

So, when people vape, they might be getting more nicotine than they think, which can be really dangerous, especially for young people. Even if there’s no nicotine, vaping can still be bad for you because the chemicals in the vapor can hurt your lungs and your health. Since we don’t always know what’s in the vapor, it’s best to stay away from vaping altogether! 

Shannon’s pro tip for parents: Help your child develop strategies to refuse vapes if pressured by peers. 

*”Nicotine and Toxicants in Electronic Cigarette Aerosols: Determining the Impact of the E-Liquid Flavoring.” Journal of the American Medical Association, 2019 

There’s no smoke in vapes – aren’t they safer than cigarettes?

While there might not be any smoke in vapes, does anyone truly know what a vape is? A vape is an aerosol (think tiny droplets of liquid particles) produced when the device heats the liquid inside. This vapor can contain harmful substances that can damage a person’s lungs, cause cancer, and overall pose risks to health.

So, although they may be marketed to us as a safer alternative, they are not safe given the unhealthy side effects they can cause to a person’s body.  

Sarah’s pro tip for parents: Create a smoke-free home. This helps set a positive example and reduces exposure to secondhand smoke and vape. 

It seems like a lot of adults vape, why can’t I?

Good question! First, vaping (and any tobacco use) is illegal for anyone under 21. You might be surprised, but only 15% of adults in Oregon who can legally vape actually do. That means 85% of adults don’t vape, so just because some people do it, it doesn’t mean most people do. 

Vapes have thousands of chemicals and usually contain nicotine, all of which can be really addictive.  This can hurt your brain while it’s still growing and make it harder to quit later. It can also lead to serious health problems, like lung and heart issues. 

So, even if it seems like vaping is everywhere, remember that it’s illegal if you’re under 21 — and most adults don’t do it either!

Ashley’s pro tip for parents: Introduce your child to relaxation techniques like deep breathing, meditation, or listening to music to help manage stress.