Talking About Vaping & Drugs
A calm, non-judgemental conversation about vaping, nicotine, and drugs — including how they are sold on social media — that keeps the door open rather than driving it underground.
This script helps you talk about vaping, nicotine, and drugs — and how they are marketed and sold to children online — without shame or scare tactics. The goal is not to deliver a lecture but to give your child accurate facts and to make clear that they can always come to you. Children who feel able to be honest are the ones who ask for help when they need it.
When to have this conversation
Start in late primary or early secondary school, and revisit as your child gets older or if vaping or drugs come up at school, among friends, or online. A relaxed, one-to-one moment works far better than a confrontation.
Before you start
- • Get your own facts straight first using NHS, ASH, and Talk to FRANK, so you are calm and accurate rather than reacting from myth.
- • Decide in advance that this is a conversation, not a punishment — even if you have found something worrying.
- • Pick a low-pressure moment (a car journey, a walk) where eye contact is optional and there is no audience.
Conversation by age group
"Have you seen people vaping at school or online? I wanted to hear what you make of it."
parent
"You might have seen vapes around — they come in bright colours and sweet flavours. Do you know what's actually in most of them?"
Start with curiosity, not a warning. Let them tell you what they already know.
child
"Some people at school have them. They smell like bubblegum."
parent
"That's exactly how they're designed to seem fun — but most contain nicotine, which is really addictive and not good for a growing brain. It's also against the law to sell them to under-18s."
Name the marketing. Framing it as 'they're being sold to you' resonates more than 'it's bad for you'.
parent
"If anyone ever offers you one, or you see them being sold on Snapchat, you can just tell me. You won't be in trouble for being honest."
This is the most important line — the open door.
Tips for this age
- • Keep it short and concrete; one clear message lands better than ten.
- • Emphasise the 'you won't lose my trust' message so they come to you first.
- • Mention that vapes sold online are unregulated and have sometimes been found containing stronger drugs.
"Can we have a proper chat about vaping and drugs? Not a lecture — I just want you to have the facts."
parent
"You're old enough that you'll come across this, if you haven't already. I'd rather you heard the honest version from me than a scare story or a sales pitch."
Respect their maturity. Teenagers switch off from lectures but respond to being treated as capable.
child
"Loads of people vape. It's not a big deal."
parent
"For a lot of them it becomes a nicotine habit that's genuinely hard to quit — that's the part people don't advertise. And stuff sold through Snapchat or Telegram isn't checked; some vapes have turned out to be laced with other drugs."
Acknowledge the social reality rather than denying it, then add the facts they won't have been told.
parent
"Whatever happens, if you or a mate ever get into something you can't handle, come to me. My job is to keep you safe, not to catch you out."
Reinforce the safety net. This is what makes them call you at 1am instead of hiding it.
Tips for this age
- • Avoid ultimatums — they tend to push experimentation underground.
- • Talk about how dealers use social media so they can recognise and avoid recruitment into selling.
- • Point them to Talk to FRANK as a confidential source they can check themselves.
Follow-up actions
- → Keep the conversation going — revisit it lightly rather than treating it as one big talk that is now 'done'.
- → If you are worried your child is already vaping or using drugs, speak to your GP, school nurse, or a local young people's service, and use Talk to FRANK for confidential advice.
- → If you suspect exploitation or county-lines recruitment, contact the police (101, or 999 in an emergency) and children's services.
Related safety topics
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.