You do not have to tell your parents to quit vaping. Free programmes like This Is Quitting work without adult sign-off. But if you can bring one adult into the quit, the odds go up.

Before the conversation

  1. Decide first, tell second. Do not open with "I vape." Open with "I've decided to quit and I need your help."
  2. Pick a low-stakes moment. Driving is good — no eye contact, no exit.
  3. Have one ask ready. A pediatrician appointment, no lectures for two weeks, a weekly check-in.

The script

"I have been vaping. I've decided to quit. I don't need you to lecture me — I already know it's bad. What I need is [specific ask]. I'm going to use [This Is Quitting / an app / a doctor's appointment]. Can we agree that if I slip, I tell you and we don't fight about it?"

Anticipate the first reaction

  • Anger: normal. Give them 24 hours. Restart the conversation the next day.
  • Panic: show them the parents' pillar so they have facts, not fear.
  • Immediate ultimatums: ask them to hold off on consequences until you have run a two-week quit attempt.

What to ask for

  • A pediatrician appointment (they can prescribe NRT off-label if needed).
  • Removal of any vaping cues from the house.
  • No daily interrogation. A once-a-week check-in is enough.
  • If you slip, the response is "what happened?" not "I told you so."

What to hand them

Send them the link to the parents' pillar. It gives them a script and specific things to do that actually help.

If home is unsafe

If you cannot talk to a parent, a school counsellor, coach, or pediatrician is confidential in most US states. This Is Quitting works without any adult involvement.