Supporting someone to quit

Deciding to stop vaping can be challenging. For many young people, vaping is connected to habits, routines, friendships, stress or nicotine dependence. 

There is no single pathway to quitting, and what works for one young person may not work for another. 

While adults cannot make decisions on behalf of a young person, they can play an important role in listening, encouraging and walking alongside them as they make choices about vaping. 

Start where they are 

Young people are not all at the same stage when it comes to vaping. 

Some may be ready to quit. Others may be thinking about it, unsure, or not interested in stopping at all. 

Before offering advice, take time to understand where a young person is right now. 

You might ask:

• Have you ever thought about stopping?
• What do you like about vaping?
• Is there anything you don’t like about it?
• Have you noticed any impact on your health, fitness, money or daily life? 

Avoid assuming they are ready to quit simply because you want them to. 

Motivation matters

Young people stop vaping for many different reasons. 

For some, it may be a desire to improve their fitness, make a sports team, take part in kapa haka, save money, improve their health, take on leadership roles, strengthen their faith, or simply feel less reliant on a vape. 

The reasons for change often belong to the young person. 

You might help them explore: 

• What matters most to them right now. 
• Whether vaping helps or gets in the way of those goals. 
• What they would like to be different in the future. 

Helping a young person identify their own reasons for change is often more effective than telling them why you think they should quit. 

Stay connected

Young people do not always need adults to have all the answers. 

Sometimes they need someone who will listen, ask questions and remain present, even when conversations are difficult. 

Some ways to keep communication open include: 

• Checking in regularly. 
• Creating opportunities to talk. 
• Listening without immediately jumping into advice. 
• Making space for honest conversations, even when you disagree. 

Young people are often more willing to seek guidance when they know they can speak honestly without fear of being judged. 

Support the direction, not just the destination 

Positive change does not always happen in a straight line. 

Some young people stop vaping quickly. Others may take longer, experience setbacks or change their minds along the way. 

Try to notice and acknowledge effort, even when the outcome is not yet where you would like it to be. 

This might include: 

• Cutting back on vaping. 
• Going longer periods without vaping. 
• Improving their fitness or wellbeing. 
• Saving money. 
• Learning more about nicotine dependence. 
• Thinking differently about vaping. 

Small steps can help build momentum over time. 

Encourage, don’t rescue

Supporting a young person does not mean solving every problem for them or protecting them from every consequence. 

You can offer guidance, practical help and reassurance while still allowing a young person to take responsibility for their own choices. 

Some consequences may come from school policies, sports teams, workplaces, youth groups or other settings. While these situations can be difficult, they can also provide opportunities for learning and reflection. 

Young people often learn most effectively when they are able to experience the outcomes of their decisions and work through the challenges that follow. 

Expect setbacks

Many young people find quitting difficult.

Some may stop and start several times before quitting. Others may reduce their vaping before deciding to stop completely. 

Setbacks can be frustrating for both young people and the adults around them, but they do not mean all effort has been lost. 

Understanding what contributed to a setback can help a young person feel better prepared for future challenges. 

A setback does not mean failure. It can be a normal part of making changes. 

What we’ve learned from young people

Through our conversations with young people, we have learned that: 

• The reasons young people give for quitting are often different from the reasons adults expect. 
• Many underestimate how difficult it can be to stop once vaping becomes part of their daily routine. 
• Feeling judged or pressured can make quitting more difficult. 
• Honest conversations and encouragement are often more effective than repeated lectures. 
• Small steps can be just as important as major milestones. 
• Change rarely happens in a straight line. 

One final thought

Young people may not always remember every conversation they have about vaping, but they often remember how adults responded when they were struggling. 

Checking in, keeping communication open and recognising effort can make a meaningful difference over time.