So you found that long USB looking thing in your teenager’s car. Or maybe it looks like a marker. You googled. You know that it’s a mechanism for smoking tobacco/nicotine. More specifically, it enables the user to ingest a substantial amount of nicotine REALLY quickly.
If you’ve already read about teens vaping (or Juuling) and now you want to know how to handle it, you’ve come to the right place.
From a therapist’s perspective, here are some general rules to follow:
This is a teachable moment. You have an opportunity to show your kids what it’s like to manage emotions even when scared and upset. You can show them what it’s like to talk through tough situations. You can teach them that they are responsible for their actions. You can teach them that you are a dependable parent, and they can trust you to hold steady when they need support.
If you think the tobacco/nicotine use is excessive, if you tried to handle it and it didn’t go well, if you need extra support in knowing how to move forward, we are always here to help.
About the author:
Katie Zuverink is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) living in Grand Rapids, MI. She specializes in trauma work with kids and parents, and she especially loves coaching adults through difficult parenting dynamics. She also loves working with women’s issues (anxiety, depression, balancing the life of being a woman in today’s world). For more on Katie, read her full bio.
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