Department Resources

Support Someone Who is Quitting

The use of e-cigarettes is unsafe for kids, teens and young adults. E-cigarettes contain nicotine which is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s. Some e-cigarettes look like regular cigarettes, cigars or pipes and others look like USB flash drives or pens.

Types of e-cigarettes, tanks and mods, rechargeable, disposable

How you can help

Parents and educators can help prevent and reduce the use of all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes by young people by:

Learning about the different shapes and types of e-cigarettes and the risks to young people
Talking to young people about the risks and setting firm expectations about being tobacco-free
Setting a positive example by being tobacco-free
Sharing the risks of all forms of tobacco product use for young people
Engaging in positive and self-enhancing activities and behaviors
Signing up to get support from the Heads Up virtual group, for teens and parents working through a variety of challenges.
Listen to the Fairfax County Public Schools’ Healthy Minds podcast. Start by checking out the Warning Signs of Addiction episode.

Cessation Support for Parents

Finding out your child is vaping can bring on a rollercoaster of emotions. There are resources to help you to be a great support system for your child while they are quitting vaping.

Vape Free Virginia

Vape Free Virginia is a free service offering professional support and expert advice for teens and young adults, as well as parents, guardians, teachers, coaches, health care providers and all trusted adults who desire to help.

Visit Vape Free Virginia to learn more!

This is Quitting

This is Quitting is available to teens and young adults ages 13-24 and offers tips and guidance on quitting from other young people who have attempted to or successfully quit e-cigarettes themselves. The program is free to all young people and is available 24/7 if they need a tip on how to get through a craving or some motivation to keep going.

Young people who live in Fairfax County can text in DitchVape to 88709 to get enrolled in the program. The first message young people receive asks for their name and age and then a few additional questions including what device they use so that the program can be tailored to them. When enrolling young people can also decide to set a quit date if they are ready to quit. They can receive up to 2 weeks of messages prior to their quit date and 60 days of messages post quit date. If they aren’t quite ready to quit that’s ok too! We will still provide them with 2 weeks of messaging to boost their confidence and provide them with tips for quitting whenever they are ready.

Talk It Out

Heads Up and Talk It Out are weekly virtual concurrent groups hosted by the Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board. Heads Up is for teens between the ages of 14-17 who are working through emotional, mental health or substance use challenges. Talk It Out provides support, education and resources to their parents and guardians.

Parents and guardians are encouraged to join the concurrent Talk It Out session. Parents will discuss ideas on how to help their teen live their healthiest, fullest lives in the aftermath of trauma or through times of emotional distress. Guest speakers will offer parents ideas on how to discuss tough issues and offer tips on how to break communications barriers with their teens.

These confidential groups take place every Thursday from 6 to 7 p.m. via Zoom. Learn more about Heads Up and Talk It Out.

BecomeAnEx

Parents can text in QUIT to 202-899-7550 to receive text messages that are designed specifically for parents of vapers. These texts will provide you with advice, tips and inspiration. Parents can also join the online community to talk with other parents who are also trying to support their young people in quitting. Find out how to BecomeAnEx.

Conversation Starters to Engage Youth and Keep it Going

Tips

It's best when parents ask open ended questions and allow teens/young adults to talk.
It’s helpful to pause to listen to what teens/young adults are saying and thinking about vaping.
Restating what was heard can show teens/young adults that you are listening and care.
Avoid giving advice to avoid pushing teens/young adults away.
Have them tell you about their experience and if they have tried to quit.
Open up the conversation and provide resources when the conversation allows.

Conversation Starter Examples

What do you know about quitting?
How would you like things to be different?
When would you like to quit?
What do you think would be a reasonable goal or quit date?
What do you think you will gain/lose if you quit?
What have you tried to do to quit before?
What do you want to do next?
Why do you want to make this change?
What do you like/not like about vaping?
What are some consequences of vaping that concern you the most?
What are the reasons you want to stop?
How can I help you with quitting?
It sounds like you are wanting to quit.
You haven’t quit yet, but it sounds like you have learned about what may or may not help you.
You’re really taking this seriously.
It is clear that you are trying to change.

Did you know?

Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine which is highly addictive and can harm brain development which continues until the 20s.
Each time a new memory is created, or a new skill is learned, stronger connections – or synapses – are built between brain cells. Young people’s brains build synapses faster than adult brains. Nicotine changes the way these synapses are formed.
E-cigarette aerosol is harmful and contains ingredients such as heavy metal (nickel, tin, lead), cancer-causing chemicals and flavoring such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease.
Young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to go on to use regular cigarettes.
Using nicotine in adolescence may also increase risk for future addiction to other drugs.

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