Nicotine Use Disorder in Children

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KEY POINTS

• Nicotine use disorder is a pattern of using nicotine that leads to serious personal, family, and health problems. Nicotine is a chemical in cigarettes, pipe tobacco, cigars, vaping, snuff, and smokeless (chewing) tobacco. It is both a stimulant, which increases energy, and a sedative, which is calming.
• For any treatment to be successful, your child must want to stop using nicotine. If your child is abusing or dependent on nicotine and wants to quit, get help from your healthcare provider.

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What is nicotine use disorder?

Nicotine is a chemical in cigarettes, pipe tobacco, cigars, vaping, snuff, and smokeless (chewing) tobacco. It is both a stimulant, which increases energy, and a sedative, which calms your child down.

Nicotine use disorder is a pattern of using tobacco that leads to serious personal, family, and health problems. The more of these statements that apply to your child, the more severe the nicotine use disorder is.

1. Your child uses more or uses nicotine for longer than planned.
2. Your child wants to cut down or quit but is not able to do so.
3. Your child spends a lot of time and energy getting nicotine, using nicotine, and getting over the effects.
4. Your child craves nicotine so much that your child has trouble thinking about anything else.
5. Your child has problems at work, school, or at home.
6. Your child has relationship problems because your child doesn’t keep promises or argues or gets violent with other people.
7. Your child stops doing things that used to matter, such as sports, hobbies, or spending time with family members or friends, because of the nicotine use.
8. Your child uses nicotine even when it is dangerous such as when you are around children.
9. Your child keeps using nicotine even though your child knows that it is hurting his or her physical or mental health.
10. Your child needs to use more of the nicotine or use it more often to get the same effects. This is called tolerance.
11. Your child has withdrawal symptoms when your child stops using.

Nicotine use disorder may also be called dependence or addiction.

What is the cause?

At first your child may use tobacco because it makes your child feel good or because your child wants to change something about his or her life. Your child may start smoking to be more like friends who smoke. Your child may want to look older or rebellious, and think smoking will help to relax and feel better.

The brain makes chemicals that affect thoughts, emotions, and actions. Nicotine changes the balance of these chemicals in your child’s brain. When your child uses nicotine regularly, the brain starts to get used to it. As a result, your child doesn't feel good unless using nicotine. When your child stops using nicotine, the balance of chemicals in the brain changes, which causes the symptoms of withdrawal.

Your child has a higher risk of becoming dependent on nicotine if your child:

• Has a family history of tobacco, drug, or alcohol abuse
• Has abused tobacco, alcohol, or drugs in the past
• Is easily frustrated, has trouble dealing with stress, or feels as if he or she is not good enough
• Is regularly around people who use tobacco, alcohol, or drugs
• Has a mental health problem

Your child may like the feel, smell, and sight of a cigarette and the ritual of handling, lighting, and smoking cigarettes. If your child tries to quit smoking, giving up these rituals may make withdrawal symptoms and cravings worse.

Most people who use tobacco start before age 18. Children who start smoking at a young age are less likely to quit when they become adults.

What are the symptoms?

Signs of smoking may include:

• Fast heartbeat
• Smelling like smoke and having bad breath
• Sinus congestion and constant cough
• Trouble breathing when doing activities such as running or swimming
• Sore throat or hoarse voice
• Tooth decay, stained teeth, and gum problems
• Trouble sleeping
• Getting frequent colds or other infections

If you notice these signs, it does not mean that your child is smoking regularly, but you should talk with your child.

When your child tries to quit using tobacco, your child may have withdrawal symptoms that can be mild to severe and may include:

• Restlessness and irritability
• Depression or anxiety
• Trouble paying attention
• Trouble sleeping
• Increased appetite
• Headaches
• Cravings for tobacco

The symptoms of withdrawal may be very strong, especially during the first 72 hours after your child stops using tobacco. After the first 2 or 3 days the symptoms improve.

How is it treated?

Nicotine use disorder can be treated.

• Your child must stop all use of tobacco including smoking cigarettes or pipes, vaping, and chewing tobacco.
• Your child’s healthcare provider may recommend nicotine replacements that can almost double the chances of quitting for good. You can buy nicotine gum, patches, or lozenges without a prescription. Nicotine replacement therapy lets your child slowly decrease the amount of nicotine in his or her system over time. Using a nicotine replacement may reduce cravings and ease physical symptoms. The dose of nicotine is slowly decreased over several weeks or months.
• Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) are battery-operated devices that may look like a cigarette, cigar, pipe, pen, flash drive, or other common item. They make a smokeless vapor that the person inhales. Because of this, using an e-cigarette is called vaping. Children and teens should not use e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes contain chemicals, including flavorings that appeal to children and teens. These chemicals can irritate your child’s lungs and worsen breathing problems including asthma. It is possible that some of these chemicals may cause lung damage, pneumonia, or cancer.

  Some people believe that e-cigarettes can help them quit smoking. There is no proof that e-cigarettes help your child quit. The FDA has not approved e-cigarettes as a safe and effective way to quit smoking. E-cigarettes deliver nicotine in a way that can continue the nicotine and smoking addiction. Some experts believe that e-cigarettes are more addictive than other sources of nicotine.

• Success is more likely if your child works to change the behavior. Your child may want to join self-help groups such as Nicotine Anonymous or organized quit-smoking programs, or try individual therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) helps your child look at thoughts, beliefs, and actions, and understand which cause problems Then your child learns to change unhealthy ways of thinking and acting.

How can I help my child?

If you use tobacco, get the support you need to quit. Nothing you say about tobacco will be as powerful as the example you set for your child.

If your child is using tobacco:

• Ask what your child likes about smoking or using tobacco. Also ask what your child doesn’t like or what concerns your child about smoking. Try to find and suggest a healthy substitute for tobacco. For example, if your child is smoking to try to fit in with friends, help find another activity, such as sports or drama, where your child can fit in with friends.
• Point out that smoking causes bad breath, stained teeth, and stinky clothing.
• Although the immediate problems caused by tobacco will mean more to most children than long-term risks, it is still important to tell your child that people who smoke often die at an earlier age than nonsmokers. People who smoke are more likely to die from problems caused by smoking such as cancer, heart disease, or lung disease. Using smokeless tobacco causes gum disease, mouth cancer, and heart disease.
• Let your child know that you don’t approve of smoking and you will not allow it in the home. Make your statement without anger if you can. Let your child know what will happen if your child breaks the rules such as loss of cell phone, TV, computer or game time. Make sure that you do what you say you will do.

If your child is ready to quit, help your child with these things:

• Set a quit date and tell family members and friends. Some people gradually use less tobacco in the days leading up to their quit date. Others use the same amount of tobacco right up to their quit date.
• It may also help if your child uses sugarless gum, hard candy, beef jerky, or sunflower seeds in place of smoking or chewing tobacco.
• Throw out all tobacco products and anything used with the tobacco such as lighters and ashtrays.
• Write down the reasons for not wanting to smoke and review them whenever tempted to use tobacco.
• Make a list of the situations, places, or emotions that make your child more likely to use tobacco. These things are called triggers. Being aware of these triggers can your child avoid them or be ready for them. For example, if your child always uses tobacco when feeling stressed, your child can plan to take a walk instead.

• Change daily routines and take on new activities that don't include smoking. Your child could join an exercise group or take up a sport. Your child might want to try drawing, making models, or other activities to keep busy.
• Encourage your child to spend time with people who don't smoke. It is also helpful to learn ways to relax and manage stress. Talk about what your child could buy with the money usually spent on tobacco.
• You may be able to find a program for teens through local hospitals or the American Cancer Society.
• Encourage your child to keep trying. Many people try more than once to quit before they finally succeed.

For more information, contact:

• QUIT NOW
  800-784-8669
• National Cancer Institute
  https://smokefree.gov/
  800-784-8669