Conversation key to keeping children away from vaping, county educator says

Parents and guardians must continue to talk with their children about vaping and expectations around rejecting the use of electronic cigarettes, a Montgomery County Educational Service Center instructor said Thursday evening.

>> Flavored e-cigarette ban now in effect nationally

"I want parents to keep talking to their kids, to let them know vaping is not a good thing," the instructor, Emily Mongelli, said at an information table on vaping at Kettering Middle School.

The "Vaping/E-cigarette Pop Up Prevention" was offering during parent-teacher conference night at the school. Information on vaping, e-cigarettes and other drugs was available for the taking, said Mongelli, who works in the county educational service center's prevention department.

The information provided was developed by health education experts from the University of Texas School of Public Health in Austin and CVS Health Foundation.

The idea is to educate adults on the best way to talk to children and encourage healthy choices and avoid risky behaviors regarding e-cigarettes, county education service center officials said.

Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults:

  • The use of e-cigarettes is unsafe for children, teens, and young adults
  • Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s
  • E-cigarettes can contain other harmful substances besides nicotine
  • Young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future

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