[Redway]

Vape because you want to, not because you’re trying to fit in. There are worse peer-pressure vices than vapes but … ya. Don’t get into the blue raspberry menthol nicotine phase just because everyone around you is doing it. There really isn’t any need when it’s not something you actually want to. 10-15 years ago and beforehand more of the talk and dissuasion for 14-17-year-olds was about binge-drinking and smoking (smoking used to be totally legal for 16+ year-olds, though) but less of this generation of teens is really into all that. Nobody smokes in 2024 because they think it looks cool. It’s completely out of style and fashion, and you don’t see many under-23s (let’s say 23) doing it now, unless they’re on some night out and just fancy one or two for the vodka-ride (social smoking is still relatively common, but more-so in established smokers who have smoked for at least a while). But vapes are in and while they might be better and healthier than actually smoking, there’s no point going overboard with it. You’re still putting a substance into your body and excess-nicotine isn’t good, no matter whether it’s combusted or not. Too much of a good thing can be bad. Nicotine can be a mild power-boost for the body and mind so I guess by the age of 16 you can sort of decide whether you want that kind of effect in your body in moderation (that per-se ain’t a bad thing) but it should be first thing in the morning or when you need a little sharp-buzz in your head. Not continuously throughout the day. You’re still taking in nicotine, and that only has literally one or two benefits. Beyond that it’s still a toxic substance, whether you’re vaping it or smoking it.

Consider vaping CBD instead (that goes for everyone). CBD vapes come in flavours just like nicotine (although some stores have more variety than others) and unlike nicotine it’s actually healthy and good for you. Everyone’s body is just that little bit better with CBD, and I wouldn’t say it’s incompatible with good teenage development. At the very least it can do no harm.

I’ve got menthol CBD at the moment and it’s just doing its ting. I don’t vape nicotine and I’m not too comfortable with the idea of kids forcing themselves to get practically hooked on them because it’s just what everyone else is doing (and it does seem like practically everyone vapes something these days). You just don’t need to do it.