What are "vapes"...found messages on my son's phone

runningbuddy

morning folks....did a random check on my 13 year old's phone and found out that himself and another kid are spending money on "vapes".....it also mentions different dyes....red, black, green. Obviously I'll be speaking to himself but I haven't a clue what it means. Is it E-Cigs??? anyone any experience with this? thanks

kylith

Vapes would generally refer to e-cigs, yes.

runningbuddy

Thanks pal....had visions of all sorts....would one get a "hit" from an e cig though??

Quadrature

Looks like we've another problem brewing if 13 year olds are using what's supposed to be a product to get smokers off cigarettes ... Or so we're led to believe anyway.

Penny Tration

Vape refers to electronic cigarettes, yes.

The 'dye' aspect is odd, though. Ecigs have flavourings, which generally don't colour the liquid.

I would have a chat with your son and find out who sold him an ecig at his age.

There is no legal age limit on purchasing ecigs at the moment (this will change when regulations come in soon), but NO reputable business will sell them to children.

Ultimately, a child should not be smoking or using ecigs. They are made for and intended for use by adults.

You should talk to your son, because chances are he's not addicted to nicotine yet so he needs to get off of the ecig before the addiction starts!

runningbuddy

That's what I'm thinking....I remember smoking real cigs at that age and yes, could see the attraction....just don't understand the E-Cigs...do they contain nicotine?? want to be informed before I tackle himself...

runningbuddy

thanks Julia...am shocked to be honest...this is the first "hassle" with him so far...just need to handle it properly...thank god he back to school tomorrow!

Penny Tration

runningbuddy wrote: »

That's what I'm thinking....I remember smoking real cigs at that age and yes, could see the attraction....just don't understand the E-Cigs...do they contain nicotine?? want to be informed before I tackle himself...

You can get ecigs with or without nicotine. About 95% of them have nicotine, at varying levels.

The attraction seems to be kids thinking they're cool (they're not, I look like an idiot with mine!).

They DO give a hit, in that you get a throat hit (you'll know what I mean if you've smoked) and they release nicotine into the body.

So absolutely you should tackle this.

Mehaffey1

runningbuddy wrote: »

That's what I'm thinking....I remember smoking real cigs at that age and yes, could see the attraction....just don't understand the E-Cigs...do they contain nicotine?? want to be informed before I tackle himself...

Most will contain nicotine. To be honest the e cigarette I used had a mighty kick off it certainly felt stronger than a normal cigarette at full draw.

Cliona99

Hopefully he's too young for this to be likely, but cannabis can be vaporised too.

runningbuddy

Thanks folks....Just wasn't sure what the hell vapes were...ah the joys!!

Quadrature

You should probably find out what retailer supplied them too.

Penny Tration

Quadrature wrote: »

You should probably find out what retailer supplied them too.

Legally nothing can be done, as it's perfecly legal to sell them to minors at the moment (this will change by the end of the year), but a strong word with the retailer wouldn't go amiss.

runningbuddy

I will....and these guys certainly look 13, if not younger....I would have assumed it was illegal to sell to minors...same as cigs

Quadrature

Jenny Thalia wrote: »

Legally nothing can be done, as it's perfecly legal to sell them to minors at the moment (this will change by the end of the year), but a strong word with the retailer wouldn't go amiss.

Personally, I'd go to the local papers and probably try to get it onto national radio.

LegacyUser

I agree that children should not be using e-cigs.

But the biggest problem here for me is that you are doing random checks on your child's phone. He has a right to his own private communications with his friends. I presume you pay for the phone, but I don't think that gives you the right to use it as surveillance -IMO that's as invasive as reading a child/teenagers diary.

baby and crumble

guesttoday wrote: »

I agree that children should not be using e-cigs.

But the biggest problem here for me is that you are doing random checks on your child's phone. He has a right to his own private communications with his friends. I presume you pay for the phone, but I don't think that gives you the right to use it as surveillance -IMO that's as invasive as reading a child/teenagers diary.

Ah, there's a difference between reading a diary and spotchecking internet and messaging use tbh. Diaries aren't used to negotiate using drugs (and let's be honest, nicotine is a socially acceptable drug, but a drug nonetheless) or access hardcore porn like a lot of phones can instantly these days.

clappyhappy

^^^^^^^^^ really???

I have told my kids that until they are 18 I want to know their pass codes to their phones, iPad etc. if I try to access it and I can't it will be confiscated. They are fine with that. There is way too much out there that would concern me if my kids are being subjected to it.

I think this parent is right, if his 13 year old is curious about or using these ecigs, I think he needs to talk to them with the facts and guide his child as he seems fit.

ManOfMystery

guesttoday wrote: »

I agree that children should not be using e-cigs.

But the biggest problem here for me is that you are doing random checks on your child's phone. He has a right to his own private communications with his friends. I presume you pay for the phone, but I don't think that gives you the right to use it as surveillance -IMO that's as invasive as reading a child/teenagers diary.

Absolutely nothing like a diary, IMO.

A mobile phone is a communication device in it's mildest form, and with today's smartphones, it's basically a mini computer which they can chat, access internet and do a multitude of other things with. And just as any responsible parent will check and/or filter their child's internet access to protect them from online porn/paedophiles/etc, so too should their phone be checked.

The father was 100% correct to do this. Let's not forget, his son is only 13yrs old. When he's a bit older he can have all the privacy he wants, but for now he's basically still a child and children do not get to dictate to their parents about their 'privacy'.

runningbuddy

But the biggest problem here for me is that you are doing random checks on your child's phone. He has a right to his own private communications with his friends. I presume you pay for the phone, but I don't think that gives you the right to use it as surveillance -IMO that's as invasive as reading a child/teenagers diary. Sorry, have to disagree here. He is entitled to his privacy but since the summer, he has had a bit more freedom and I told him I would be doing "random" checks on his phone. If I hadn't have come across these messages, I would have had absolutely no idea he was using his pocket money to by e cigs.....

Old Perry

With regards to snooping, a parent has every right, really its just good parenting to keep an eye on things, while he is still a minor the op is pretty much resposible for his behaviour.

i just came to suggest that a word of caution on assuming its e cigs. apart from the correlation between vaping and vapes ya couldnt be certain. kids language these days can sometimes almost be foreign.

although if it is e cigs this was always bound to happen at some stage. hopefully it ends there and doesnt become a stepping stone to real cigs.

peekachoo

As a 20yo I would just like to throw in my 2 cents regarding the phone checking ...

When I would have been that age, older, or the age I am now, I would have felt completely betrayed and find it totally intrusive of my parent to be reading my text messages. And I know if you asked anyone my age or younger they would say the same.

Taltos

Mod Note
Less of a discussion on the rights/wrongs of keeping an eye on a 13 yr old through their mobile phone usage.
Instead please try to keep replies on topic to the issue at hand, that of a child purchasing/using e-cigs.

freshpopcorn

My advice is deal with this but don't go over the top about. Because if there's any issues in the future he mighn't come to you in the future and he certainly wouldn't leave a text in his phone.

lima

Eh Sorry, Vapes are also used to smoke cannabis, without as much of the toxic chemicals going into your lungs.

http://www.buzzfeed.com/catferguson/vaping-weed#.gbJ61wKVV

kylith

Hell of a lot less likely for a 13 year old to be doing that though. Especially since you will not be able to get weed cartridges over here.

lima

kylith wrote: »

Hell of a lot less likely for a 13 year old to be doing that though. Especially since you will not be able to get weed cartridges over here.

Not really, you don't need cartridges. I know a hell of a lot of my peers were smoking cannabis at 12 years old

Dial Hard

Quadrature wrote:

Personally, I'd go to the local papers and probably try to get it onto national radio.

Who's to say they even bought the stuff? They may well have swiped it off one or several adults.

Augme

freshpopcorn wrote: »

My advice is deal with this but don't go over the top about. Because if there's any issues in the future he mighn't come to you in the future and he certainly wouldn't leave a text in his phone.

This is one the reasons I'd be reluctant to say anything. Once he finds out you go through his phone then he's simply going to stop using his phone to talk his dodgy dealings. As dodgy dealings and teenagers go vaping is on the very low end of the scale to worry about.


I'd give it a while and give your kid a chance to let his fascination with vaping disappear naturally.

OneOfThem

kylith wrote: »

Hell of a lot less likely for a 13 year old to be doing that though. Especially since you will not be able to get weed cartridges over here.

The vapourisers talked about in the link are just used with regular old weed (or possibly cannabis oil), using a ceramic chamber that allows cannabis to be heated to vapourising temperature, without combusting. It's not just an e-cig with weed cartridges. Pretty easy for most 13 year olds to get weed.

That said, weed vapourisers tend to be pricey. And if this is what the OP's son was talking about they'd be talking about weed/cannabis, not just "vapes", and as the OP has seen no talk of weed, that's not the case.

He's talking about e-cigs. The fuel for them comes in nicotine and non nicotine varieties. Could be either.

For the person talking about spot checking their teens phone intermittently as a deal with them. My old ecstasy dealer when I was 14 had that deal with her father in exchange for buying her a phone. Shockingly didn't leave messages sitting around on it discussing her deals, tended to delete them immediately after she read them, because of the deal with her father, and I'd imagine any other messages etc she didn't want him to read. So I wouldn't put a massive amount of stock in that tactic. I used to do the same when I was that age despite having no understanding like that with my parents, and them not knowing the password, on the off chance I left the phone sitting somewhere unlocked. Give them a little credit. Me and a girl I was seeing as a teenager used to call sex 'going to the cinema' on the off chance her parents saw one of the texts on her phone and, ye know, buried me in the Dublin mountains. I think you're vastly underestimating the intelligence of your children. But I'm sure your teenagers leave everything on thier phones intact and in clear site as they have no communications with thier peers they'd rather their parents, who they know will be spot checking their phones, don't see.

lima

Also, kids use Snapchat for all the secret stuff you know!!

foggy_lad

Search his room on Monday or today if he is back in school. Search everywhere including pockets of clothes that are hanging on the floor. Hoover and clean as you go so that it can be used as a reason you were in the room if you find anything.

LegacyUser

Augme wrote: »

I'd give it a while and give your kid a chance to let his fascination with vaping disappear naturally.

nicotine is highly addictive, so it may not disappear that easily

SuperGrover

runningbuddy wrote: »

morning folks....did a random check on my 13 year old's phone and found out that himself and another kid are spending money on "vapes".....it also mentions different dyes....red, black, green. Obviously I'll be speaking to himself but I haven't a clue what it means. Is it E-Cigs??? anyone any experience with this? thanks

I know everyone is talking about e-cigs here but as a current vaper and an ex cannabis smoker, this sounds like code for cannabis usage. It makes total sense as a 'code' (leb, black, grass) and does not really make any sense for vaping, where flavours are the difference, not really colours, which are incidental.

We used codes when we were younger, too.

Would you really use a code with something your parents wouldn't be happy with you using? I mean, I get they're 13, but it just seems odd that you'd use something like "vapes" in case you were caught.

SuperGrover

Me personally? No.

It may well not be the case.

But it makes no sense as 'vapes' but lots as cannabis.

Fukuyama

clappyhappy wrote: »

^^^^^^^^^ really???

I have told my kids that until they are 18 I want to know their pass codes to their phones, iPad etc. if I try to access it and I can't it will be confiscated. They are fine with that. There is way too much out there that would concern me if my kids are being subjected to it.

I think this parent is right, if his 13 year old is curious about or using these ecigs, I think he needs to talk to them with the facts and guide his child as he seems fit.

Your post got a lot of thanks which I'm assuming shows support for checking your kids phone. I don't have kids so I don't really have an opinion on it. However, when I was 14/15 phones that could just text were becoming common. I smoked weed for a while. I always deleted any texts that referenced it. I also deleted any "embarrassing" texts to girls that I wouldn't want a sibling or parent to snoop on.

Kids are smarter than their parents when it comes to technology. On the low end they just delete texts, sexts, pictures etc... they have dual accounts and cloud storage, Snapchat etc... all of which can be configured to hide activity easily.

I'm not sure that checking devices is a good idea purely because anything incriminating is deleted, well hidden, encrypted etc... often in plain sight. You wouldn't even know what to look for. This would be particularly true in a case where a teenager KNEW his phone was being checked regularly or randomly.

You don't even have to be a programmer whizz kid to do these things. It's all common knowledge amongst teens.

I remember when I started drinking and getting up to no good around 14 or 15. Parents had no idea. I was a loser, nervous geek kid. Far from being in with the cool lads. Even to this day my parents have no idea what I got up to when myself and a few friends would head off. I even broke some serious laws (broke into abandoned factories etc...). I wasn't a little scum bag. Just bored and a little bit angry at the world. I was treated like a kid so I acted like a "grown up" every chance I got. I felt good drinking and doing stupid stuff not because it was cool (I often did this stuff completely alone) but because I thought I was doing the opposite of what geeky loser kids do.

When I was 16 my dad suddenly started treating me like an adult. Asking my opinions. Talking to me. Stopped telling me what to do and began asking what I was going to do with my day/summer/life.

All the bad behavior I was doing in secret and with friends stopped quite literally in the space of a few days. I remember feeling like if I got caught I wasn't afraid of my dad/mam losing the plot but that I'd lose the respect they'd suddenly shown me.

I'm kind of rambling here. I never think or talk about any of that stuff. Take from it what you will.

OP - IMO - your son made an adult decision to smoke. It was a dumb decision but one you can relate to yourself. We've all been there thinking we were super cool with a John Player Blue. Talk to him about it. I wouldn't wag your finger and try to punish him.

If you think a teenage boy smoking is bad - be glad he's innocent enough to get caught. A smart teenage boy who starts feeling the need to hide things from the two people he should be able to talk to about anything will terrify you in a couple of years time.


Also - you can vape weed. But vapes cost hundreds of euros and no head shop would sell them one. So it's likely e-cigs and their use of terminology is an attempt to sound cool or "street smart".

harry Bailey esq

lima wrote: »

Eh Sorry, Vapes are also used to smoke cannabis

No they are not,vapourising is a method of consuming cannabis without combustion,and therefore without smoke.The clue is in the name My one cost about €400.There are cheaper ones on the market,known as pen vapes with the very cheapest model retailing at around €80 online.I find it hard to fathom that a 13 year old would have that kind of cash on hip,although i could be wrong.Some people are taking a pop at the op for checking his child's phone,those people need to cop on.His house,his son,his rules.13 is a very pivotal age for a youngfella and the Op is doing exactly what any responsible parent should do.The chap came on to look for some advice, not to get criticism on his parenting skills.

lima

harry Bailey esq wrote: »

No they are not,vapourising is a method of consuming cannabis without combustion,and therefore without smoke.The clue is in the name My one cost about €400.There are cheaper ones on the market,known as pen vapes with the very cheapest model retailing at around €80 online.I find it hard to fathom that a 13 year old would have that kind of cash on hip,although i could be wrong.Some people are taking a pop at the op for checking his child's phone,those people need to cop on.His house,his son,his rules.13 is a very pivotal age for a youngfella and the Op is doing exactly what any responsible parent should do.The chap came on to look for some advice, not to get criticism on his parenting skills.

Well 'sorry', I meant ingesting cannabis. Smoking/Vaping/eating etc. I am not a loser drug taker so I wouldn't know.

Penny Tration

harry Bailey esq wrote: »

No they are not,vapourising is a method of consuming cannabis without combustion,and therefore without smoke.The clue is in the name My one cost about €400.There are cheaper ones on the market,known as pen vapes with the very cheapest model retailing at around €80 online.I find it hard to fathom that a 13 year old would have that kind of cash on hip,although i could be wrong.Some people are taking a pop at the op for checking his child's phone,those people need to cop on.His house,his son,his rules.13 is a very pivotal age for a youngfella and the Op is doing exactly what any responsible parent should do.The chap came on to look for some advice, not to get criticism on his parenting skills.

You can get cannabis vaporizers for as little as 30 euro delivered to Ireland, tbh. Boyfriend's brother has a few.

freshpopcorn

Is there any chance he was talking about e-cigs. I don't think their that expensive. Often young people tries to be cool and they mix up their words.
I take it the op has talked to their son by now.

harry Bailey esq

lima wrote: »

Well 'sorry', I meant ingesting cannabis. Smoking/Vaping/eating etc. I am not a loser drug taker so I wouldn't know.

I'm not a drug taking loser(shelling out €400 for a vapouriser didn't break the bank)and I certainly wasn't having a dig at yourself there, I was just pointing something out.I was trying to infer that its most likely the op's son was most likely talking to his pal about e-cigarettes,problematic enough as that will be to approach in itself.What irks me though is people attacking the chap for having the gumption to want to know what his son (13) is up to,yet the same people probably use the term 'I blame the parents' when reffering to unruly teenagers.I have a son slightly younger than the OP and I'll check his phone every once in a while and more than once ive scuppered planned misdeeds of his without him ever knowing I touched his phone.Theres more one way to skin a cat.As I said already, the chap asked what vapes and vaping was,not for parenting classes.

Taltos

Mod note
OP closing this thread, hopefully you got the information you needed but with the thread starting to go further off topic with not so veiled swipes as further up this page I'm calling time before folk further lose the run of themselves and get carded as a result.