Dear Rose Hill Middle School Parents and Caregivers,
 
I wanted to give you a brief update on the work that I do at your school. In addition to individual and group counseling, part of my job is to focus on substance use prevention. Therefore, before the break I have been giving presentations on Vaping Prevention in all 7th Grade Health classes.
 
Since it is best if students receive the message from multiple sources, I wanted to share the following information with you, so that you can continue the conversation at home and offer support and guidance as needed. Below you will find some tips on how to start the conversation and keep it going, as well as some useful resources to check out.
 
When talking with your teen:

• It is best to start with the fact that the vast majority (over 95%) of middle school students are making healthy choices and choosing not to vape (Source: Healthy Youth Survey for 2021); 
• Be well informed yourself, give factual information and stay away from scare tactics
• Keep the lines of communication open; ask a lot of open-ended questions to see what information your teen already has, what are the sources of that information, what are their opinions about the issue as well as personal priorities (i.e. independence – including from substances, health, etc.)
• Be a safe person they can go to with questions and/or concerns. Try not to overreact if you hear something which raises your alarm, unless of course it is matter of safety and needs to be addressed appropriately. 

 
For more information, please refer to the information materials below:
 

• Quick Facts on the Risks of E-Cigarettes  for Kids, Teens and Young Adults (Source: CDC)
• E-Cigarette, or Vaping Products Visual Dictionary
• Talk with Your Teen About E-cigarettes: A Tip Sheet for Parents (surgeongeneral.gov)

 
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me. Thank you!
 
Mina Rizova, LMHCA, SUDPT
Behavioral Health Support Specialist
Youth Eastside Services
425-517-1404