With vaping rates among South African teens soaring, parents are left worrying about the future of their children.
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Vaping among South African teens is skyrocketing, and parents are left asking: What’s next?
Is it just a phase, or are we staring down the barrel of a major health crisis?
A recent study conducted by the University of Cape Town (UCT) has raised the alarm about the prevalence of vaping in high schools. Nearly 30% of Grade 12 learners reported active use of vaping, with some schools seeing rates as high as 46%.
Published in "The Lancet EClinicalMedicine", this study surveyed over 25 000 students from 52 schools, making it one of the most comprehensive investigations into teen vaping in South Africa.
What’s more troubling is the fact that 40%–60% of learners who vape are likely addicted to nicotine, with many reporting withdrawal symptoms like the need to vape immediately after waking.
As a parent, this can be overwhelming to hear especially when your child is caught up in the vaping wave. How did we get here? What damage could this habit bring, and most importantly, what can you do to help your child quit?
The allure of fruity flavours, sleek devices, and a culture heavily promoted through social media can make vaping appear harmless perhaps even appealing.
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What’s the big deal about vaping?
For teens, vaping isn’t just a trend it’s become a lifestyle. The fruity flavours, sleek designs, and social media hype make it seem harmless, even cool. But beneath the surface lies a harsh truth: vaping is far from risk-free.
According to Professor Richard van Zyl-Smit, a leading pulmonologist and UCT academic, “Nicotine use during adolescence can harm the developing brain, with potential long-term effects on learning, memory, and attention.
Alarmingly, it also increases the risk of progression to conventional cigarette smoking.”
Vaping is linked to lung inflammation and a serious condition known as "popcorn lung," which results in scarring of the small airways, leading to respiratory challenges and diminished lung capacity.
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What happens when a teen starts vaping at 16 and continues into their early 20s? The potential repercussions are sobering:
Addiction becomes a lifelong battle: Nicotine can alter the brain's wiring, making it crave more and complicating attempts to quit later in life.
Lung damage: Vaping has been linked to serious lung conditions, including "popcorn lung", which leads to scarring of the small airways, resulting in breathing difficulties.
Heart health risks: The rise in heart rate and blood pressure associated with vaping can stress the cardiovascular system, predisposing young vapers to heart disease.
Mental health impacts: Nicotine might worsen anxiety and depression in adolescents, initiating a harmful cycle where temporary relief is followed by increased anxiety.
Gateway to smoking: Evidence suggests that teens who vape are more likely to transition to traditional smoking, exposing them to further significant health dangers.
Why is so hard for teens to quit?
For many teens, vaping isn’t just about nicotine it’s also a coping mechanism. One teen admitted on social media, “It soothes my anxiety, and I’ve told my mom. It isn’t even the nicotine…more like a dummy you’d give to a baby to comfort it.”
This emotional attachment, combined with the addictive nature of nicotine, makes quitting incredibly challenging.
What can you do to help?
Here are some practical steps you can take to support your child in quitting vaping:
1. Start the conversation
Approach the subject calmly and openly. Ask them about their vaping habit without judgment. Try questions like, “What made you start vaping?” or “How does vaping make you feel?”
Let them know you’re coming from a place of concern, not punishment.
2. Educate them on the risks
Share real stories and research, like the findings from UCT’s study. Many teens don’t fully understand the long-term damage vaping can cause. Break it down in simple terms—talk about how it could affect their health, sports performance, or even their skin (yes, vaping can damage collagen!).
3. Help them cut back gradually
Going cold turkey can be hard, especially for teens who are already addicted. Suggest gradually lowering nicotine levels or using nicotine-free vapes as a step toward quitting entirely.
4. Get professional help
Consider reaching out to a doctor or counsellor who specialises in addiction. They can recommend nicotine replacement therapies (like patches or gum) or behavioural strategies to help your child quit.
5. Be patient and supportive
Quitting is a journey, and there will likely be setbacks. Celebrate small victories along the way, and remind your child that you’re in their corner no matter what.
It’s important to remember that you’re not alone in this.
One mom shared in a private group, “I feel like I’ve failed as a parent because I can’t get my son to stop.”
But the reality is, that many parents are in the same boat, navigating this new and challenging terrain.
Vaping might seem like a harmless trend but, for South African teens, it’s a ticking time bomb. The highly addictive nature of nicotine and its impact on the developing brain make this an issue we can’t afford to ignore.