As vaping products become more sophisticated, cannabis concentrates grow increasingly potent and substances like kratom gain popularity among young people, many parents may struggle to keep up with the latest trends and risks.

To help families better understand today’s substance-use landscape, Prevention Specialist Jennifer Bateman, of the Rappahannock Area Community Services Board (RACSB), shared insights into what parents need to know about vaping, cannabis derivatives and other emerging concerns.

What substance-use trends are you seeing among young people when it comes to vaping and cannabis derivatives?
While overall national teen vaping rates have dropped, teens that do vape have had little to no success on kicking the habit due to products becoming cheaper and more potent. Devices are evolving to be much larger in size with higher nicotine concentrations, while remaining cheaper. Some devices even feature built-in screens with mini-games, making them highly appealing to younger demographics. Vaping cannabis, the scientific plant name for what is colloquially known as marijuana or weed, surpassed traditional methods like smoking or edibles. Beyond vaping, tobacco-free nicotine pouches have emerged as one of the fastest-growing nicotine habits among young people.

What do families need to understand about the health risks of vaping?

Vaping substances alters brain chemistry. The prefrontal cortex takes the biggest hit (and, remember, the prefrontal cortex isn’t fully developed until the mid 20s). Shorter attention span, altered memory and impulse control issues are some of the most noticeable concerns. Vaping also increases the risk of lung injuries and sets teens up for future substance use and abuse.

The FDA recently approved new flavored vapes. Why are flavored vapes a concern, and how do flavors influence youth use?
Flavored vapes are a major public health concern because they mask the harsh taste of nicotine, making it easier for youth to inhale and quickly become addicted. Furthermore, heating these flavor chemicals produces toxic compounds that damage respiratory and oral health. There are thousands of flavors for teens to choose from when it comes to vaping liquids. There’s everything from strawberry, chocolate and vanilla all the way to chicken and waffles and unicorn farts. These flavors come in beautiful, persuasive and eye-catching packages. The vaping industry is grooming the next generation of vaping consumers (following the game plan from Big Tobacco).

What are some common misconceptions that teens, and sometimes parents, have about cannabis and vaping?

One of the biggest misconceptions that teens and parents have when it comes to vaping is how addictive vaping really is. Within 30 seconds of inhaling, any substance vaped will start to interact and change brain chemistry, triggering the addiction cycle. When it comes to cannabis use, there is a big road block when parents start to compare their experiences with cannabis use and their teens’ interactions with cannabis. 

“The cannabis of today is 1,000 times
stronger in terms of potency than the
cannabis of even 10 years ago.”

Parents today may not see the danger of recreational cannabis use because of their personal interactions with the substance. Cannabis today is much stronger than compared to prior years and decades. Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC is the main psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant. It causes the perception of being “high.” When teens vape cannabis, they are vaping pure THC concentrates that are 70-90% pure THC. This means that there is little to no CBD or other additives to the concentrate. CBD is cannabidiol, which is a naturally occurring compound found in cannabis plants. While it is non-psychoactive and does not cause a “high,” there can be risks from continued use. When added to a vaping device, any substance becomes four times stronger in potency. This means that a teen vaping THC will almost instantly go into THC poisoning.

Many parents may be unfamiliar with kratom. What is it, and why has it become a concern?
Kratom is a largely unregulated, plant-based herbal supplement that can act as a stimulant in small doses and an opioid-like sedative in higher quantities. Kratom binds to the exact same brain receptors as opioids like fentanyl or morphine. Regular use leads to dependence. When individuals stop use, they often experience severe opioid-like withdrawal symptoms, including insomnia, muscle aches, nausea and intense cravings. Health risks include liver toxicity, high blood pressure, confusion, seizures and in extreme cases, death (often when combined with other substances). Kratom is dangerous because of the way it is marketed to teens and where and how it is sold.

Virginia’s new kratom law took effect July 1 of this year. What does the law change, and why is that significant for the prevention of youth substance abuse?
Governor Abigail Spanberger signed a sweeping consumer protection law (HB 360) restricting kratom access in Virginia. The new regulations raise the legal purchase age to 21, mandate secure “behind-the-counter” storage and require warning labels. Additionally, the legislation outlaws highly concentrated, synthetic forms of the substance like 7-OH. This legislation is a solid step forward in limiting youth access to addictive substances.

What are some effective ways for parents to start age-appropriate conversations about substance use with their children? 

Addiction is a multi-faceted, complex concept for even the most well-versed researcher to discuss. Breaking this concept down for our kids can seem like a heavy lift. When your children are younger, conversations around substance use need to be prefaced as “healthy choice vs. un-healthy choice.” Have conversations about how their bodies work, how the different systems buddy up to work together to keep them healthy. Talk about how different substances, such as vaping and alcohol, can make their bodies not work the way that they should. Choices can also be labeled as an “adult choice vs. kid choice.” 

When children get a little older, they will most likely bring the discussion to you. Answer each question to the best of your ability. Research together the answers you don’t have. This can be an opportunity for you both to learn more about substances and emerging trends around their use (they are always changing). Being vague is not going to work. Kids will see right through this and will go to another source for their answers. 

Your child wants you to be their touchstone for all of the hard discussions. Teens and young adults need their parents to help them sort through what is factual and what is fake when it comes to information that they have gotten from friends and social media. Again, if you don’t know the answer, do your own research from creditable sources. Always be willing to talk to your child about substance use and the feelings that go along with that. Never think that your child will never see or be exposed to substance use because they will. Be a part of the conversation early.

What can parents do to help reduce the likelihood that their children will experiment with substances?
Children who have a strong, supportive relationship with at least one parent or caregiver are least likely to seek out substances to deal with life stressors. Being available to your child and able to hold an honest and open dialogue with your child helps to build resiliency skills that they will need when dealing with substance use situations in the future.

If a parent learns that their child is vaping or using cannabis products, what advice do you have for them on how to respond, and where can they get help if they need it?
Take a breath. It will be ok. First question, is your child safe in this moment? In other words, does their substance come from a retailer or an unknown source, does it have the potential to be laced with an unknown substance and did they purchase it online? Illicitly purchased or acquired substances have the potential to be contaminated with many different, sometimes lethal, substances, such as fentanyl. 

Once your teen’s substances have been secured, the next call should be to your pediatrician. Your teen can and most likely will start to go through withdrawal, and this can be both physically and psychologically stressful. Your pediatrician is a great resource to help your teen and you through this step in their recovery. 

Next steps could be and should include substance use counseling, and, in some cases, family counseling. It’s always scary when you find out your child is going through something hard; substance use is one of the hardest things that anyone can go through. Lots of grace and support from family, friends and your community will help. You can also find lots of support and information from your local community services board, the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).