Cigarette Smoking, while at one-time a glamorous past-time, has thankfully decreased in its appeal and use in both adults and teens. However, a new form of nicotine inhalation is quickly taking its place: vaping.

What is Vaping?
​"Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling the aerosol, often referred to as vapor, which is produced by an e-cigarette or similar device. The term is used because e-cigarettes do not produce tobacco smoke, but rather an aerosol, often mistaken for water vapor, that actually consists of fine particles." (Source: Center on Addiction)

What about Juuling?
Most vaping devices look like large fountain pens or closely mimic the look of a traditional cigarette. A Juul is a newer type of vaping device that looks more like a tall flash-drive and even comes with a real USB flash-drive to charge the Juul. ​

The creators of Juul developed the product for smokers who already smoke and are trying to reduce or eliminate the use of cigarettes; however, teens are getting into Juuling instead of smoking - even if they've never smoked a traditional cigarette - because they think it's "safer" or easier to hide. 
​
​Vaping, especially "Juuling" is more attractive to teens for a few reasons: It's something new and "cooler looking". Compared to its combustible rolled-up paper ancestor, e-cigs don't need a lighter and many e-cigs' liquids come in fun flavors and smells the kids like. However, contrary to what many teens think, vaping is no less harmful and the nicotine in a Juul pod is still as addictive as the nictone in traditional cigarette smoking. "JUULpods are offered in both 3% and 5% strengths. Each 5% JUULpod is designed to contain approximately 0.7mL with 5% nicotine by weight"   (Source: Juul.com)

How to Help your Kids Avoid or Stop Vaping and Juuling
In an article in Your Teen Mag, Sandra Gordon shares Koorosh Rassekh's - an addiction therapist and founder of Evo Health and Wellness, an outpatient addiction treatment program in Venice, California - advice for how to talk to your teens about vaping and Juuling. 

• Don't Lecture.
• Be Open to Conversation.
• Try to Understand Your Teens Motivations.
• Get Outside Help.

If you are concerned about your teen's health and drug use - including vaping - seek help and support within your community for yourself, as the parent(s) or guardian(s), and for your teen. Find a list of resources for teen drug and addiction recovery here. 

Support the Pure & Simple Revival to help kids make positive choices, develop healthy relationships, and build strong families and communities. ​​

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Celebrating #RedRibbonWeek this week, it's a good time to talk about a different type of addiction that many avoid talking about but is quickly becoming the "new drug" of this generation: Pornography. 
Some might call that statement over-dramatic yet pornography addiction is real and scientific studies show it can be as harmful, and sometimes even more, as a drug or alcohol addiction.  (Source: Fight the New Drug) 

While the viewing of pornography and masturbation has been waved off as a "normal activity to relieve sexual tensions", the science is clear: Pornography use harms boys and girls. and men and women, psychologically, emotionally, and socially. 
"At-risk users, who invest an inordinate amount of finances, energy and time into Internet pornography often suffer psychological ills such as depression, anxiety, and lack of fulfillment." ( Psychology Today )

But how big of a problem is it really? The following statistics on porn use by children, teens, and adults may surprise you:

The facts about pornography use and addiction are depressing and concerning. The good news is, like with any addiction, there is always a way out. Check out the following resources for pornography addiction recovery:

• The Parenting Dare: Now What?
• Fight the New Drug
• Covenant Eyes
• Good Pictures Bad Pictures Books

Courageously share this information with others and join the important fight against this "New Drug" for the sake of our youth and adults of today and tomorrow!

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Support the Pure & Simple Revival to help kids make positive choices, develop healthy relationships, and build strong families and communities. ​

Pure & Simple Health Education promotes primary prevention and risk-avoidance by encouraging youth to make positive choices. When it comes to drugs, staying drug-free is the best way to prevent drug addictions and all the negative consequences that come with a drug addiction. 

This year's Red Ribbon Week happening this week, October 22 - October 31, inspires youth with their theme: "Life is Your Journey; Travel Drug-Free."

The Red Ribbon Week website is full of ideas and resources for how schools, families and communities can participate in this year's Red Ribbon Week and inspire youth to remain drug-free. Here are 5 WAYS TO CELEBRATE RED RIBBON WEEK. 

If you can choose only one way to join this important cause, choose to give your kids the gift of your time, a listening ear and a pinch of wisdom. 

This week, we're celebrating Red Ribbon Week by sharing important information about drug abuse and other unhealthy addictions along with inspiring content to encourage youth, families, and communities to avoid unhealthy risks, make positive choices and develop healthy relationships. 

It's easy to stay connected with us:
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