LIFE IN THE MIDDLE ~ NOVEMBER ~
A Mental Health and Wellness Newsletter from CMS Counselors
IN THIS ISSUE: Tobacco and Vapor Awareness
E- Cigarette Awareness and Prevention
Electronic Cigarette Quick Facts
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services:
- E-cigarettes are now the most commonly used tobacco product among youth, surpassing conventional cigarettes in 2014. E-cigarette use is strongly associated with the use of other tobacco products among youth and young adults, including cigarettes and other burned tobacco products.
- In 2015, about 1 of every 6 high school students, used e-cigarettes in the past month. More than a quarter of youth in middle and high school have tried e-cigarettes.
- Among high school students, e-cigarette use is higher among males, whites, and Hispanics than among females and African-Americans.
- Research has found that youth who use a tobacco product, such as e-cigarettes, are more likely to go on to use other tobacco products like cigarettes.
What are E-Cigarettes?
- Electronic Cigarettes are commonly known as E- Cigs, Hookah Pen, Vape Pen, Vapes.
- E-Cigarettes are battery powered and heat a liquid into an aerosol that is inhaled.
- The liquid generally has nicotine from tobacco. It may also contain flavorings and other additives.
- Marijuana and other illicit drugs can also be delivered through an e-cigarette.
Subtle Signals That Could Indicate Vaping
- Sudden aroma - fruity, minty, candy. There are thousands of varieties. Most e-liquids have flavors that smell link candy, vanilla, fruit etc.
- Unfamiliar Handheld Gadgets - E-Cigs come in a variety of shapes. The most common resembles a pen and is known as a vape pen.
- Increased Thirstiness
- Batteries and Chargers - Most e-cigs/vapes need charged everyday/regular basis.
Talk with Your Teen About E-Cigs
Excerpted from: Talk With Your Teen About E-Cigarettes: A Parents Guide
https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/documents/SGR_ECig_ParentTipSheet_508.pdf
Be on the lookout for opportunities to have a natural discussion about e-cigarettes, rather than a "We need to talk" conversation. Watch for some of these opportunities:
- Seeing someone use an e-cigarette in person or in a video.
- Passing an e-cigarette shop when you are walking or driving.
- Seeing an e-cigarette advertisement in a store or magazine or on the internet.
Answer Their Questions
Your teen may ask you why you don't want them to use e-cigarettes.
• Science shows that e-cigarettes contain ingredients that are addictive and could harm different parts of your body.
• Right now, your brain is still developing, which means you are more vulnerable to addiction. Many e-cigarettes contain nicotine, and using nicotine can change your brain to make you crave more nicotine. It can also affect your memory and concentration. I don’t want that for you!
• E-cigarettes contain chemicals that are harmful. When people use e-cigarettes, they breathe in tiny particles that can harm their lungs.
• The cloud that people exhale from e-cigarettes can expose you to chemicals that are not safe to breathe.
What’s the big deal about nicotine?
• Your brain is still developing until about age 25. The Surgeon General reported that nicotine is addictive and can harm your brain development.
• Using nicotine at your age may make it harder for you to concentrate, learn, or control your impulses.
• Nicotine can even train your brain to be more easily addicted to other drugs like meth and cocaine.
• I don’t say this to scare you, but I want you to have the facts because nothing is more important to me than your health and safety.
Aren’t e-cigarettes safer than conventional cigarettes?
• Because your brain is still developing, scientific studies show that it isn’t safe for you to use any tobacco product that contains nicotine, including e-cigarettes.
• Whether you get nicotine from an e-cigarette or a cigarette, it’s still risky.
• Some e-cigarette batteries have even exploded and hurt people.
I (or my friends) have tried e-cigarettes and it was no big deal.
• I appreciate your honesty. In the future, I hope you (or your friends) will stay away from e-cigarettes and other tobacco products, including cigarettes. Science shows that e-cigarettes contain ingredients that are addictive and could harm different parts of your body.
• Next time we go to the doctor, let’s ask about the risks of nicotine, e-cigarettes, and other tobacco products.
You used tobacco, so why shouldn’t I?
• If I could live my life over again, I never would have started smoking. I learned that people who smoke cigarettes are much more likely to develop, and die from, certain diseases than people who don’t smoke. This was really scary, so I quit smoking.
• Quitting was really hard, and I don’t want you to go through that. The best thing is to not start at all.
Resources:
https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/getthefacts.html
https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/documents/SGR_ECig_ParentTipSheet_508.pdf
https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/documents/2016_SGR_Fact_Sheet_508.pdf
CIGARETTE SMOKING AND SMOKELESS TOBACCO
The health risks of smoking are well known, yet teens continue to smoke and use smokeless tobacco. 90% of all adult smokers picked up the habit when they were under 18.
It's important to make sure our teens understand the dangers of smoking and using tobacco products.
- Cigarettes are the leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States, and can cause cancer, heart disease, and lung disease.
- Chewing tobacco (smokeless or spit tobacco) can lead to nicotine addiction, oral cancer, gum disease, and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks.
Talking with your kids about the risks of these products and setting clear rules about not using them can help protect them from these unhealthy habits.
What Draws Teens to Smoking and Tobacco Use?
- They think it is "cool".
- To act older
- To seem tough
- To feel independent
Parents can help fight these pulls and keep teens from trying smoking and chewing tobacco. A good foundation of communication is vital and makes it easier to work through tough issues like tobacco use.
Prevention Tips
Excerpted From Kids Health.org https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/smoking.html#
To help prevent your kids from smoking and using chewing tobacco, keep these guidelines in mind:
- Talk about it in a way that doesn't make kids fear punishment or judgment.
- It's important to keep talking to kids over the years about the dangers of tobacco use. Even the youngest child can understand that smoking is bad for the body.
- Ask what kids find appealing — or unappealing — about smoking. Be a patient listener.
- Encourage kids to get involved in activities that prohibit smoking, such as sports.
- Show that you value your kids' opinions and ideas.
- Discuss ways to respond to peer pressure to smoke. Your child may feel confident simply saying "no." But also offer alternative responses such as "It will make my clothes and breath smell bad" or "I hate the way it makes me look."
- Emphasize what kids do right rather than wrong. Self-confidence is a child's best protection against peer pressure.
- Encourage kids to walk away from friends who don't respect their reasons for not smoking.
- Explain how much smoking governs the daily life of kids who start doing it. How do they afford the cigarettes? How do they have money to pay for other things they want? How does it affect their friendships?
- Establish firm rules that exclude smoking and chewing tobacco from your house and explain why: Smokers smell bad, look bad, and feel bad, and it's bad for everyone's health.
What to Watch For
Excerpted From Kids Health.org https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/smoking.html#
If you smell smoke on your child's clothing, try not to overreact. Ask about it first — maybe he or she has been hanging around with friends who smoke or just tried one cigarette. Many kids do try a cigarette at one time or another but don't go on to become regular smokers.
Other signs of tobacco use include:
- coughing
- throat irritation
- hoarseness
- bad breath
- decreased athletic performance
- getting more colds
- stained teeth and clothing (also signs of chewing tobacco use)
- shortness of breath
What to do if your child is experimenting with tobacco?
Excerpted From Kids Health.org https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/smoking.html# Sometimes, despite all preventative measures, teens will experiment. It may be tempting to get angry, but it's better to focus on communicating with your child.
Here are some tips that may help:
- Resist lecturing or turning your advice into a sermon.
- Find out what appeals to your child about smoking and talk about it honestly.
- Many times, kids aren't able to appreciate how their current behaviors can affect their future health. So talk about the immediate downsides to smoking: less money to spend on things they like, shortness of breath, bad breath, yellow teeth, and smelly clothes.
- Stick to the smoking rules you've set up, and don't let a child smoke at home just to keep the peace.
- If you hear, "I can quit any time I want," ask your child to show you by quitting cold turkey for a week.
- Try not to nag. Ultimately, quitting is the smoker's decision.
- Help your son or daughter develop a quitting plan and offer information and resources, and reinforce the decision to quit with praise.
- Stress the natural rewards that come with quitting: freedom from addiction, improved fitness, better athletic performance, and improved appearance.
- Encourage a meeting with your doctor, who can be supportive and may have treatment plans.
References:
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/smoking.html#
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/health_effects/effects_cig_smoking/index.htm
HOW IS CMS EDUCATING STUDENTS ON TOBACCO AND VAPOR AWARENESS?
- Small group presentations during the month of November
- Posters throughout the school
- "Weekly Stand" Announcements focusing on decision making
How can my child meet with their counselor?
1. Teacher Referral
2. Parent Referral
3. Self Referral
We meet with students for many reasons:
1. Academic - Performance, struggles, test taking strategies, study skills etc.
2. Friendship/ Peer/Social Concerns
3. Personal Concerns
4. Behavioral Concerns
5. Stress/Anxiety
6. Responsive Services - meeting their immediate needs and concerns
If you have a concern and you would like for a counselor to meet with your child, please contact your child's grade level counselor via email or phone.
Thank you!
CMS Counseling Staff
7th Grade Counselor
Paula Lynn
8th Grade Counselor
Paula.lynn@southlakecarroll.edu
Website: http://cmscounselor.edublogs.org/
Phone: 817.949.5400
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CMSDragonsCounselors/