Teen Treatment in California
How Vaping Affects Teens: A Guide For Parents
As a parent, discovering that your teenager may be vaping can be alarming and confusing.
At Beachside Teen, we understand the challenges you face in navigating this modern threat to your child’s wellbeing.
Teen vaping has rapidly emerged as one of the most significant health concerns for adolescents, with potentially serious implications for both physical and mental health.
This guide aims to provide you with comprehensive information about teenage vaping, its relationship with mental health, and how our specialized programs can help your family through this difficult time.
Learn more about our addiction treatment programs or call us now at 877-983-5144.
Why Do Teenagers Vape?
Teenagers turn to vaping for a variety of complex reasons that often extend beyond simple curiosity:
- Peer pressure and social acceptance – Many teens begin vaping because “everyone else is doing it” or to fit in with a particular social group
- Stress and anxiety management – Some adolescents use vaping as a coping mechanism for academic pressure, social anxiety, or family conflicts
- Rebellion against authority – Vaping can represent a form of independence and defiance against parental or societal rules
- Misconception that vaping is harmless – Many teens believe vaping is a “safe” alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes
- Mental health challenges – Depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions may increase a teen’s vulnerability to vaping as a form of self-medication
What Percentage of Teens Vape?
Recent statistics paint a concerning picture of vaping prevalence among adolescents:
- Approximately 14.1% of high school students report currently using e-cigarettes
- About 3.3% of middle school students report currently vaping
- Nearly 1 in 5 high school seniors has vaped nicotine in the past month
- 34% of teens who vape do so daily, indicating potential addiction
- Vaping rates have tripled among middle and high school students over the past decade
These figures underscore that vaping is not an isolated issue but a widespread concern affecting a significant portion of the teenage population.
What Attracts Teens to Vaping?
Understanding the appeal of vaping can help parents address the root causes:
- Appealing flavors – Manufacturers produce thousands of sweet, fruity, and dessert-like flavors specifically designed to attract young users
- Discreet devices – Modern vaping devices are small, easily concealed, and often resemble everyday items like USB drives or pens
- Social media influence – Vaping content on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube normalizes and glamorizes e-cigarette use
- Perceived coolness factor – Vaping tricks, device customization, and the associated culture create an aura of sophistication and trendiness
- Accessibility – Despite age restrictions, teens often find ways to access vaping products through online retailers or older peers
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The Dangers of Vaping in Teens
Vaping poses several serious risks to adolescent health that many teens and parents may not fully understand.
The teenage brain is particularly vulnerable to nicotine dependence, as the neural pathways responsible for addiction are still developing. This makes adolescents more susceptible to becoming dependent on nicotine more quickly than adults, often leading to long-term use patterns that are difficult to break.
Beyond addiction, nicotine exposure during these formative years can significantly impair brain development. The prefrontal cortex—responsible for decision-making, impulse control, and attention—continues developing until approximately age 25. Regular exposure to nicotine during this critical period can alter this development, potentially resulting in long-lasting effects on cognitive function, attention span, and emotional regulation.
Vaping also presents substantial physical health risks:
- Respiratory damage – The chemicals in vape aerosols can cause inflammation in the lungs, persistent coughing, and worsen existing conditions like asthma
- EVALI risk – E-cigarette or Vaping product use-Associated Lung Injury has resulted in thousands of hospitalizations and multiple deaths nationwide
Perhaps most concerning is the “gateway effect” that researchers have observed.
Studies consistently show that teens who begin with vaping are more likely to transition to traditional cigarettes and experiment with other substances. This progression often coincides with declining academic performance, as the effects of nicotine on concentration, combined with the social dynamics surrounding vaping culture, can significantly impact a student’s ability to engage with schoolwork effectively.
The Connection Between Teen Vaping and Mental Health
Research increasingly reveals that teens who vape regularly report significantly higher levels of anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders than their non-vaping peers. While some adolescents begin vaping as an attempt to self-medicate these conditions, the nicotine in vaping products actually alters brain chemistry in ways that can worsen mood disorders and emotional instability over time.
Nicotine functions as a stimulant in the body, interfering with healthy sleep patterns that are crucial for mental wellbeing during adolescence.
Many parents are surprised to learn that while teens often report vaping to relieve stress, nicotine actually increases stress hormone levels in the body long-term, creating a physiological state of heightened anxiety that becomes increasingly difficult to manage.
Perhaps most concerning for long-term development:
- Impaired coping skills – Using vaping as an emotional crutch prevents teens from developing healthy emotional regulation
- Social consequences – As vaping becomes central to their identity, teens may gradually withdraw from non-vaping peers and positive activities
How Does Vaping Affect A Teen's Body?
The physical impacts of vaping extend throughout a teenager’s developing body:
- Respiratory system – Chemicals in vape aerosol can cause inflammation, reduced lung function, and chronic bronchitis
- Cardiovascular system – Vaping increases heart rate and blood pressure, potentially leading to long-term heart issues
- Immune function – Studies suggest vaping may suppress immune response, making teens more susceptible to infections
- Oral health – Increased risk of gum disease, tooth decay, and oral lesions
- Neurological effects – Potential impact on memory, concentration, and impulse control
- Endocrine disruption – Some vape chemicals may interfere with hormone regulation during crucial developmental periods
- Digestive issues – Nicotine can cause nausea, heartburn, and other gastrointestinal symptoms
Our California Teen Addiction Treatment Programs
Beachside Teen offers comprehensive, evidence-based treatment options tailored to your teen’s specific needs:
Residential Treatment
Our residential program provides a structured 24/7 therapeutic environment where teens can heal and recover away from triggers and negative peer influences. Upon admission, each teen undergoes a comprehensive medical and psychological assessment to develop a personalized treatment plan.
Partial Hospitalization Program
Our PHP option provides intensive daytime treatment (typically 6-8 hours daily) while allowing teens to maintain some connection to home life. This structured therapeutic environment includes continued medical monitoring and psychiatric care as needed
Intensive Outpatient Program
Our IOP offers flexible scheduling (typically 3-4 hours, 3-5 days weekly) that allows teens to maintain school attendance and family life while receiving essential treatment.
Educational
Programming
Our accredited academic program ensures that teens don’t fall behind in their studies while in treatment.
What Should I Do If I Find My Teen Vaping?
Discovering your teen is vaping requires a thoughtful, measured response rather than a reactive one. Begin by managing your own emotions—staying calm and approaching the situation with curiosity rather than accusation creates space for honest communication. Express your concerns from a place of care rather than judgment, and be prepared to listen more than you speak initially. This approach allows your teen to share their perspective and helps you understand the underlying reasons they turned to vaping in the first place.
Education is a powerful tool in this situation, both for you and your teen. Take time to research accurate information about vaping risks together, allowing your teen to participate in learning rather than simply being lectured. While establishing clear, consistent boundaries regarding vaping is essential, these boundaries are most effective when created with input from your teen and framed in terms of health and wellbeing rather than punishment or control.
How We Address Vaping and Mental Health: Our 90-Day Approach
Beachside Teen’s comprehensive 90-day program addresses both vaping cessation and underlying mental health concerns:
Days 1-30: Assessment and Stabilization
The first month of treatment focuses on thorough evaluation and establishing stability. Your teen will undergo comprehensive physical and psychological assessments to identify both the extent of nicotine dependence and any co-occurring mental health conditions. Our medical team provides appropriate support for managing nicotine withdrawal symptoms, which can be particularly challenging for adolescents.
Days 31-60: Core Therapeutic Work
The second month delves deeper into addressing root causes through intensive therapeutic interventions. Individual therapy sessions explore personal triggers, emotional patterns, and underlying issues contributing to vaping behaviors. Group therapy becomes increasingly important during this phase, focusing on healthy peer relationships and developing social skills that support substance-free living. Family therapy sessions intensify, working to improve communication patterns, establish appropriate boundaries, and heal relational dynamics that may contribute to substance use.
Days 61-90: Transition and Relapse Prevention
The final month prepares your teen for successful reintegration to home and school environments. Treatment intensity gradually decreases as your teen demonstrates increasing ability to apply new coping skills in various settings. Together with their therapist, your teen develops a comprehensive aftercare plan that includes ongoing support resources, clear relapse prevention strategies, and specific action steps for managing high-risk situations. For teens preparing to return to school, we provide specialized reintegration support, including coordination with school counselors when appropriate.
More: What Parents Can Expect
More On Teen Vaping
Tja-Zsa Hower, LCSW
Primary Therapist
Last Updated on March 13, 2025
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At Beachside, our programming meets the highest standards for quality adolescent healthcare.
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Find Help For Your Teen Today
Your teen’s struggle with vaping doesn’t define them—it’s a challenge that, with proper support, they can overcome. At Beachside Teen, we provide the comprehensive care needed to address both the behavior and its underlying causes.
Take the first step today. Contact us to learn more about our program or verify your insurance.
Together, we can help your teen build a brighter future.