Help your kids pull off a vape escape
Kids are vaping more often and growing more addicted to nicotine. According to researchers at the University of Southern California, the percentage of eighth, 10th and 12th graders who vaped nicotine daily increased from more than 15% in 2020 to nearly 29% in 2024. And more than half of those kids said they failed at quitting -- even though they wanted to.
When young folks are hooked on nicotine from vaping, it damages their still-developing brains, creating problems with attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. And it exposes them to cancer-causing chemicals and heavy metals and makes it more likely they'll smoke cigarettes or use other drugs.
The good news is that the medication varenicline, used to help adults stop smoking cigarettes, has been found to be safe and effective for teens and young adults. A JAMA study with participants ages 16 to 25 found that after 12 weeks of taking varenicline, 51% had stopped vaping, in contrast to 14% who were given a placebo and 6% who accessed a text-messaging service called "This Is Quitting." And after six months, 28% of those who took varenicline still weren't vaping, compared to 7% of placebo users and 4% of those in the text-only group.
I've found that my adult patients who want to quit smoking are more successful when using bupropion and nicotine patches and they're associated with fewer risks -- so ask your doctor if your teen might use these instead. And to learn about more ways to incentivize your kids to make healthy choices, read my blog at michaelfroizenmd.substack.com.
Health pioneer Michael Roizen, M.D., is chief wellness officer emeritus at the Cleveland Clinic and author of four No. 1 New York Times bestsellers. Check out his latest, "The Great Age Reboot: Cracking the Longevity Code for a Younger Tomorrow," and find out more at www.4YOUngevity.com. Email your health and wellness questions to Dr. Mike at questions@4YOUngevity.com.
(c)2023 Michael Roizen, M.D.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
(c) 2025 Michael Roizen, M.D. Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.
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