How to talk to your child about nicotine

Parents and caregivers have an important role to play when it comes to preventing nicotine addiction and supporting young people in quitting. 

When parents stay informed, ask questions, and lead with empathy, they can help their children understand the risks of nicotine addiction and make informed choices. 

Here are 4 tips to help parents have constructive conversations about nicotine addiction with their children. 

1. Start by asking questions

When starting a conversation about nicotine addiction, it helps to lead with curiosity rather than judgement. 

To get the conversation started, parents can try: 

• Sharing a news story about vaping or nicotine
• Remarking on a character smoking or vaping in a TV show or movie 
• Pointing out a new vape shop while walking or driving in the neighborhood 

By listening and letting the conversation flow naturally, parents can lay the groundwork for open communication about nicotine and other substance use.

2. Approach the conversation with empathy, not anger

If a parent learns that their child has used nicotine, they should try to approach the conversation with compassion. 

Tobacco companies target young people with youth-appealing marketing, cartoon designs, and sweet and fruity flavors. Many stores sell cheap, illegal e-cigarettes at prices that are affordable for young people. Children are up against an industry designed for addiction. 

It’s important for parents to acknowledge that nicotine is an addictive chemical that can be hard to quit; using it can harm the developing brain and start a cycle of addiction. Parents can offer reasons to quit and provide quitting resources, but most importantly they should let their child know that they support them in quitting.

3. Share quitting resources

Quitting nicotine can be challenging, but it’s one of the best things a young person can do for their long-term mental and physical health. 

EX Program by Truth Initiative, a digital quitting resource developed by Truth Initiative with Mayo Clinic, provides a road map for quitting and can increase the odds of quitting by up to 40%. EX Program also has resources for parents.

4. Stay informed

Because nicotine products are changing fast, it can help when parents stay knowledgeable about emerging products and trends.

Today, disposable e-cigarettes are the most commonly used nicotine product among young people. Many products are flavored and include rechargeable batteries, screens, and even games, and they have grown stronger and cheaper in recent years — exposing users to increasingly large amounts of nicotine. Oral nicotine pouches from brands like Zyn are also becoming more common.

To learn about vaping, oral nicotine pouches, nicotine addiction, and more, see the resources below. Teachers and educators can find additional resources here.

To stay informed about the latest news and emerging research on nicotine addiction, sign up for our newsletter.

Additional resources:

E-cigarettes: 

What’s inside a vape?

The majority of e-cigarettes on the market are illegal

How quitting vaping benefits the environment

Oral nicotine pouches:

What is Zyn and what are oral nicotine pouches?

Viral TikTok videos linked to growing nicotine pouch sales

Tobacco and nicotine addiction:

3 ways nicotine addiction impacts mental health

Why tobacco is a racial justice issue

How Big Tobacco targets women

Quitting: 

Breaking the cycle of nicotine addiction

What to know about quitting Zyn

The immediate benefits of quitting smoking or vaping