February 28 • 2019 43
jn

want to crave the drug, so they have to 
do it. It’
s like a legal form of addiction.
”
Weingarden said children with 
ADHD become addicted to substances 
simply because they want to feel better 
and less stressed — and 
nicotine accomplishes 
this. 
“Kids and adults 
who have ADHD are 
more likely to become 
addicted to many dif-
ferent things, including 
nicotine and vaping, for 
many reasons,
” she said. “One reason 
being it’
s some amount of self-med-
ication and feeling good, another 
being that these kids are more likely to 
participate in peer pressured-type of 
activities, substance abuse and riskier 
behaviors, due to more disinhibition 
and higher impulsivity.
”
The danger with vaping is that the 
nicotine targets areas in a young per-
son’
s brain that are “unsupported” or 
still underdeveloped, medical profes-
sionals say. This can lead to a greater 
risk of addiction. Nicotine addiction 
can affect memory, cognitive function 
and mood. Physiologically, nicotine 
has a detrimental affect on heart 
health, appetite and the cardiovascular 
system. 
And trying to quit vaping can cause 
the same symptoms that young people 
with ADHD are trying to fight, namely 
anxiety, jittery nerves and sleep prob-
lems. 

WHAT CAN PARENTS DO?
Adequate treatment for children with 
ADHD is a critical component to help-
ing them cope with their symptoms. 
When their symptoms are regulated in 
healthy ways, doctors say, they will not 
turn to harmful substances, or activi-
ties like vaping. 
“Make sure you are working with 
someone who can treat [their symp-
toms] and can assess addiction,
” 
Weingarden said. “If ADHD is treated 
as best as possible, the risk of addiction 
definitely decreases.
”
Treatment usually includes a com-

bination of doctor-prescribed med-
ication as well as talk therapy with a 
counselor. Teaching kids about the 
dangers of vaping also helps if they are 
contemplating or already engaged in 
the activity.
Schnaar says pediatricians, ther-
apists and schools also can play a 
role in helping kids with ADHD. 
Additionally, he calls for the FDA to 
regulate the e-cigarette industry by 
passing laws as well as taxing vaping 
products.
“There is a lot of money in advertis-
ing e-cigarettes,
” he said, “and the FDA 
is always behind the eight ball.
”

ONE MOM’
S STRATEGY
Parents also play a large part in help-
ing young people with ADHD who 
are coping with a nicotine addiction 
through vaping. Leah’
s mother, who 
also wanted to remain anonymous, 
said she constantly sends her daughter 
articles about the dangers of vaping 
and tries to have an open dialogue 
with her about the issue.
“If you really want to help your kids, 
you should partner with them,
” she 
said. “It’
s hard to do things without 
partners. I’
m in [Leah’
s] face all the 
time about vaping.
”
Today, Leah takes medication to 
control her anxiety and ADHD symp-
toms. She also talks to a therapist. She 
said she doesn’
t feel the need to vape 
anymore to deal with difficult life sit-
uations.
“I feel great,
” she said. “Every single 
morning, I wake up with a smile on 
my face. Therapy has helped me so 
much.
”
She said her mother has helped her, 
as well as her boyfriend, who has con-
vinced her to stop vaping.
And, though she works diligently 
in juggling her schoolwork and symp-
toms of ADHD, Leah says she would 
like to get more involved in extracur-
ricular activities, including attending 
evening classes at her temple.
“My goal is to help in any sort of 
way I can to make this a better coun-
try,
” she said. ■

Brooke 

Weingarden 

“Somehow, when vaping fi
 rst started, there 
was this misconception that it’
s safer.”

— DR. DANA COHEN

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