As a social media safety and digital literacy company that has presented to over 586,000 teens from across Canada and the USA, over the past couple of years we have been inundated with questions from parents, teachers, law enforcement, and even the students themselves, about teen vaping. Although there are some good articles available online, very few, if any, include any teen input. Recently, I also read a document that was being distributed to parents in Canada asking that it be forwarded to schools. The author was comparing the use and sales of vapes by teens to drug dealers, insinuating that teens are making significant profit margins on their sales.
If there is one thing that we have learned as a company, if you want to know the who, what, where, why, and how of teen culture, go ask the teens themselves, and that’s exactly what we did. Given that we have thousands of teens that follow us on a variety of social media platforms, we asked for volunteers who would be willing to speak with us voluntarily and provide their take on vaping. We had hundreds of responses from students across Canada and the United States, and we conducted just over 20 hours of one-to-one online interviews. What we learned from these students about vaping was amazing, enlightening, educational, and at times a little disturbing and we think you, the reader, will as well. Knowledge, and the understanding and application of that knowledge is power. There is too much disinformation about vaping when it comes to parenting on this important topic, thus the reason for this article. It is our hope that the information in this article will provide some more insight for parents, educators, and law enforcement.
UPDATE 2021 (Canada)
So what are the numbers when it comes to vaping and Canadian Youth. In a 2021 survey conducted by Stats Canada bit.ly/3NYXiKV showed that:
- 5% of Canadians aged 15 and older had reported vaping in the past 30 days. Younger Canadians were more likely to have vaped in the past 30 days (13% of youth aged 15 – 19 and 17% of those aged 20 – 24) compared to 4% of Canadians aged 25 and older.
- Vaping to reduce stress was reported as the main reason for vaping among 15-19 years (33%) compared with 58% of those aged 25 and older who reported using vaping to reduce, quit or avoid returning to smoking.
- 6% of males and 5% of females vaped in the past 30 days.
So, What Is Vaping?
Vaping is when a person uses an electronic device to inhale and exhale a liquid that has been heated and turned into an aerosol, also called a “vapour.”
Vaping Paraphernalia:
MODS:
There are three primary electronic devices, known as “mods” that are used to vape:
#1: Unregulated Mechanical Mod Vapes (also known as a “mech” or “box mod”):
These rebuildable devices are usually square and about the size of a deck of cards. These box mods contain the batteries and chipset needed to control wattage to a coil that becomes heated and turns the vaping liquid, also known as “juice,” into an aerosol to be inhaled. A user can also outfit this mod unit with their own coil, tank (the container that holds the juice), and a mouthpiece. For teens looking to create a big vape cloud when they exhale, an Unregulated Mechanical Mode Vape is preferred. Given how these mods are built and designed, they are very durable and not prone to breakage. According to the teens interviewed, these types of mods can average between $40.00 to $100.00 to purchase depending upon the product.
SMOK Brand Box Mod
#2: Regulated Mod Vapes (also known as “Pod Mods”):
These are non-rebuildable mods that usually have a built-in power source and coil that cannot be reprogrammed. These vapes are much smaller, lighter, and very concealable which makes them more prone to breakage and therefore need to be replaced more frequently when compared to a box mod. The juice that is vaporized is pre-loaded in a juice pod, which some have stated looks like a small USB stick and is loaded into the front of the mod. Although many juice pods are one usage only (like Juul pods), others allow the owner to refill for multiple uses. According to the teens interviewed, these units cost between $30.00 to $50.00 depending on the product. These mods are also becoming more popular given that they are easily concealable when at school or home. Several students stated to me that given the small size of some of these pod mods, students are actually using them in class. When I asked how they could do this without a teacher seeing the vapour cloud, I was told about a vaping technique called “ghosting.” Ghosting is when a person will inhale from a pod mod that they hide in their hoodie sleeve, hold it in their lungs longer than normal, which reduces the cloud effect (if any), upon exhalation. Teens stated that this technique works well with pod mods, given they do not put out as much of a vape cloud as the above-noted box mod.
JUUL Brand Pod Mod
BREEZE Brand Pod Mod
NOVO brand Pod Mod
#3: Dabbing Mod:
A rarer vaping device is called a “Dabbing Mod.” Dabbing is teen slang for vaping marijuana oil. Many teens called this type of mod a “dabbing pen” and stated that they will only use a dabbing pen to vape marijuana oil and not the flavoured juices. So those who dab will usually have two mods, one for juices and one for dabbing. Dabbing pens are usually thin and look like a pen.
JUICES:
Juices are the liquids that teens will use in a mod that is then vaporized and inhaled and then exhaled. The most popular juices are usually fruit flavoured and have a sweet scent when exhaled. Many students stated that they know when someone has vaped in a school bathroom because there is a sweet smell in the air.
Juices come in two forms:
#1: Small plastic bottles with names like Banana Rama, Orange Crush, or Blue Lagoon. The liquids from these bottles, which come in many different colours, are then used to self-fill the “tank” on an unregulated mechanical mod vape (usually a clear holding space near the mouthpiece).
#2: Small USB looking pods that are usually preloaded with a flavoured juice that can only be used once (like a Juul pod) or some manufacturers are making these pods refillable which is attractive to teens from a cost-saving standpoint.
Most juices, according to the teens, can cost between $10-$20 per bottle. If the student isn’t needing a full bottle of juice, they will ask a student who has a juice bottle for a “fill.” Meaning they will fill the tank on their mod for between $2.00 to $5.00. Sometimes they will get a fill for free as long as the purchaser allows them to take a hit from the vape.
Juices come in two primary types:
#1: Non-nicotine based juice, or
#2: Nicotine-based juice also known as Nic Salts.
Most teens when they start vaping will use non-nicotine based flavoured juices. Almost all the teens stated that after they became experienced with vaping, they quickly moved to nicotine-based juices, also known as “Nic Salts” which have only been around for about 4 years now. When we asked why, all stated that it’s a good way to get a “heady.” A heady is the lightheaded nicotine buzz that you get when you inhale a nic salt. The teens reported that a heady will last between one to two minutes. The higher the nic salt percentage, the greater the buzz. This reminds us of when we were in middle school, some students would use something called “Rush” (isobutyl nitrate) that was sold in “head shops” as a legal way to do the same thing. Several teens shared with us that middle school students will often “nic out” or get “nic sick” in school bathrooms because they have inhaled too much from a nic salt pod or juice, which causes them to black out or even vomit. As most adults understand, the more nicotine one ingests, the more you will need to experience a heady. What started out as a way to get a recreational buzz, now can quickly turn into a nicotine addiction. Stanford University conducted research into the impact of tobacco and nicotine, and they found that some of the nic salt juices, or a one-use nic pod cartridge, could often contain more nicotine than a whole pack of cigarettes. There is no doubt that the pod mod known as “Juul” really started the nic salt (nicotine) arms race when it comes to nicotine vaping. This is especially true in the US where Juul is far more popular with teens than it is up here in Canada right now. Having said this, all juice and pod manufacturers now sell high-concentration nic salts.
Given that a nic salt addiction can become very expensive, some teens reported that they turned to cigarettes to ease the need for nicotine given that it was cheaper. When it comes to vaping, the use of nic salts, especially by younger teens, is quite concerning and something that all adults need to be alive to. This is especially true when the Nic Salt delivery method, when combined with flavour juice, helps to mask nicotine’s natural unpleasant taste thus allowing manufacturers to create higher-concentration products for consumption.
UPDATE July 2021 (Canada)
Since July 2021, the Nicotine Concentration in Vaping Products Regulations establish a maximum concentration of 20 mg/mL for vaping products manufactured in or imported into Canada. Legal vaping substances now contain 0 to 20 mg/ml of nicotine.
Here’s a great video on the mechanics of vaping
HOW ARE TEENS GETTING VAPES AND JUICES?
Here in British Columbia under the “Tobacco And Vapour Products Control Act” http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96451_01 you have to be 19 to purchase a vape or its juice. Given this fact, I asked the teens how they are obtaining vape equipment and its paraphernalia, and here’s what they reported back:
Bootlegging
Many of the teens that I interviewed stated they will find someone they know who is 19 years old or older, and have them “boot” (bootleg) for them. Often, a friend will not ask for money to do this but will ask the purchaser to take a “hit” in exchange, especially if it’s a nic salt juice they are purchasing. If the teen can’t find a friend, many stated that they can find an adult near a vape store that they will get to boot for them. Usually, there will be a $10.00 boot cost added to the purchase price.
Vape Stores/Retailers:
It was surprising to me how many teens stated that many stores that sell mods and juices do not ask for identification. They just walk in, buy what they want and walk out with no questions asked. This emphasizes to me that government investigators need to police this more closely. Some vendors will actually travel to locations, such as schools and malls, to sell vaping products to youth in clear violation of provincial or federal law https://vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca/saanich-police-bust-ring-allegedly-selling-vape-products-at-greater-victoria-schools-1.6324091 utilizing social media apps like Snapchat, as the conduit to connect with youth to illegally sell their products.
Parents:
Another surprise to me was how many teens stated that parents will purchase vapes and juices for their teens. Many stated that parents believed that they would rather have their teen vaping than smoking cigarettes or drugs. Many teens stated that most parents were totally unaware of what they were buying, especially the nic salts, that are being abused.
Online Vendor Purchases:
Again, several students stated they will order vapes and juices online, given that most of the online industry does not use age verification of any kind. When I asked them if they were concerned that parents would learn about this because of packages being delivered to the door in their name, many stated that given that both parents worked outside the home they could intercept the package before parents knew. Many stated that given that these companies allow you to track a delivery, they knew when it would be delivered for interception. Other teens stated that they would ship their vapes and juices to a friend’s house where parents were more accepting of vaping and would not notify other parents. Another group of students also advised that they would also ask for it to be shipped to a post office where they would later pick it up. When I asked these students what payment method they were using to purchase vapes and juices online, many stated they would use pre-loaded Visa debit cards. Many teens also advised that some of these companies would also disguise shipments so that if a parent did intercept the package before the teen, it would look like something less benign. Two online vendor sites that were mentioned by several teens were https://vapenw.com and https://www.vaporbeast.com.
Social Media:
Many students stated that vapes are also being sold on their social media feeds, like Snapchat and Instagram. The vast majority aren’t being sold in bulk like a drug dealer would conduct business, which some in our field have reported, but rather as one-offs. Many will sell their old vape so that they can purchase a newer vape. When we asked if they knew students that were making lots of money from selling vapes, many just laughed and stated that given the initial cost associated with purchasing these devices, there wasn’t a lot of money to be made unless they are selling in large quantities. Some adults have stated that teens are buying vapes and juices in bulk from China, and then reselling for a profit. Again, the teens laughed and none reported that they have seen or heard of this. Could some teens be making some money from selling bulk? Yes. But based upon the conversations with the teens we spoke with, it’s a rarity.
When Are Teens First Experimenting with Vaping?
When we asked, “What grade are teens starting to experiment with vaping?” the majority interviewed stated between grade 7-9. When we asked why, all stated primarily because of peer-pressure and wanting to fit in. Many also stated that they believed it was safer than cigarettes, drugs, or alcohol. We had one high school teen state, “Vaping has become a social event. It’s like my dad who goes out to have a beer with his buddies.”
Many adults feel that vaping has reached epidemic levels among our teens. Well, we asked the following question to our teen followers on Instagram, “How many of you are vaping?” 714 teens voted. 639 stated “no” and “75” stated yes. This means only about 12% reported that they are vaping. Yes, this is not a scientific study, but this result was also reflected anecdotally in the interviews that we conducted with teens that stated they believed it was between 10% to 30% of their school population. This estimate is consistent with a report released in 2018 by the US Center For Disease Control https://bit.ly/2Q2P0ny In fact, during the interviews, many stated that they tried it, didn’t like it, and didn’t try it again. All the teens that we spoke with said there are just as many teen girls vaping as there are teen boys. Many stated that boys will likely use a Box Mod whereas girls prefer a Pod Mod.
Many of the teens I spoke with stated that most schools prohibit vaping on school property. Here in BC, it is actually illegal under the “Tobacco And Vapour Products Control Act” to be used on school property. When we asked if schools were taking action, most stated yes. Of interest, however, many teens stated that although principals would take action, some teachers would look the other way, or just say, “put that thing away” without reporting it to the principal. Several students also stated they were aware of cases at their school where parents were contacted and some students were even suspended when caught vaping on school property. One way to avoid being caught was to vape in bathrooms behind closed doors where teachers don’t supervise, or just off school property where a school or principal has no authority to take action. Something they called a “vape pit.”
Parenting Tip:
Given the concerns and hyper-awareness surrounding vaping, companies are designing vaping paraphernalia that are purposely designed to hide their true identity from both parents and educators as this YouTube video clearly demonstrates.
Some Final Thoughts:
As we stated at the start of this article, knowledge and the understanding and application of that knowledge is power. We are hoping that the information in this article will help the reader to better understand the teen vaping culture in greater detail as of February 2019; who knows what the future holds?
Based upon our survey and the 20+ hours of one-on-one interviews with teens, anecdotally, vaping, although a significant health concern especially when it comes to nic salt juices and pods, we believe has reached problematic, but not “epidemic,” levels yet. We need to remain very vigilant about its use, especially when it comes to our younger teens. I truly believe that the vape industry, which is now being bought up and taken over by the tobacco industry, is treating this generation of teens as guinea pigs. This is something that the tobacco industry first did when cigarettes became popular. Remember, we were once told that cigarettes were safe and good for our health.
When we asked the teens about what parents and teachers could do when talking to teens about their concerns about vaping, they all stated that these adults needed to be better educated on this topic and to share factual information rather than just opinion or supposition via scare tactics. To help parents and educators understand some of the medical concerns, here are three of the best resources we have found:
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/smoking-tobacco/vaping.html#
https://www.nap.edu/read/24952/chapter/1
https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/sgr/e-cigarettes/pdfs/2016_sgr_entire_report_508.pdf
It was refreshing to hear many of the older teens who are long-time vapers share with us that they wished that they had never started vaping, especially when it came to nic salts. Most, not all, stated that we adults need to spend more time educating teens about vaping before they hit grade 7. Words from the wise, in our opinion. One grade 12 student said:
“Every generation has something like this and frankly, some teens are never going to be smart enough to stay away from these things.”
Being reflective on when we were in middle school and high school, this teen is correct. However, there are things we adults can do to help mitigate the risk to the majority of teens who are now faced with this current generational challenge. How? Education, education, education. Education that is truthful, respectful, evidence-based, and teen-inclusive in nature.
As Dr. Tyler Black has stated:
“Vaping is better than smoking but worse than not vaping. Unfortunately, vaping is marketed at kids/youth who were already declining smoking/nonsmokers, meaning for that group, harm addition. A large percentage of youth who vape have never smoked. Again, harm addition.”
Here’s a great Youtube interview we did with Clayton Cranford, an expert on the topic of vaping
Thank you to all the teens who took our survey and connected with us to share their thoughts and expertise specific to this teen vaping culture. We’re grateful that they trusted us not to reveal their identities. The information we gathered is very valuable and hopefully, this will help us develop a better understanding of the changing culture of our teens so we can educate on the possible health implications.
Darren
The White Hatter Team
