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
IChoseHeartland.com
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