The 12-Year-Old Girl Whose Vaping Addiction Left Her Fighting For Her Life | This Morning

As we continue our campaign to help stamp out teenage vaping, we hear the terrifying story of 12-year-old Sarah, whose vaping addiction left her fighting for her life.
Broadcast on 17/10/23
Subscribe now for more! bit.ly/1JM41yF
Stream This Morning live, every weekday from 10am on ITVX 📲 www.itv.com/watch/this-mornin...
Like, follow and subscribe to This Morning!
Website: www.itv.com/thismorning
Facebook: / thismorning
Instagram: / thismorning
TikTok: / thismorning
Twitter: / thismorning
Join us every weekday as we meet the people behind the stories that matter, chat to the hottest celebs, get the latest fashion trends, and cook up a storm with your favourite chefs!
And did we mention we have quite a few laughs along the way too?
www.itv.com
www.stv.tv
#ThisMorning

[@LilFoxyCosplay]

The fact she's 12 is terrifying

[@life_seeker6102]

I saw 8 year olds vaping with PARENTS in the car 😡🤬

[@shaunahamilton1416]

She said she tried it at 9 it's terrible

[@kieranjaymansfield]

​@@life_seeker6102Should have their kids taken from them, if that's the case!

[@Laura-fh3sc]

​@@life_seeker6102what????

[@jessieb7290]

Kids in my class in middle school back in the day smoked cigarettes at 8 years old, when asked how they said they took them from their parents. Even in the 90’s it was considered cool.

[@donnajohnson8035]

‘Teenager with lung damage’ - she isn’t even a teenager yet!! Horrifying.

[@Greedytoad]

Because she had asthma, it was a huge contributing factor.

[@user-jp5kx5hn4i]

Exactly cause she's just a kid she's not even a teenager yet

[@user-jp5kx5hn4i]

I was thinking the same thing

[@user-nj1rn3qq2p]

She looks old for 12 not good

[@mavanehalftermeyer8067]

That's what I was going to say, she still a girl not a teenage, O don't like that they label as teenage maybe to lower the importance of the theme, and also the production put make up on her, we all know a 12 YO doesn't need mascara, foundation and lipstick. All this is wrong.

[@paigegnazzo3109]

I didn’t even think of smoking or doing drugs at 8…. It’s sad now a days kids are exposed to so much so young, I hope she lives a long healthy life❤

[@NikiRoseeeee345]

Yes it is. I know two 15 year olds at my school that vape 😔

[@itsnotadrianaaaaa]

Well, I would hope you wouldn't think of smoking or doing drugs ever, much less 8.

[@officiallychelz6508]

In 4th this girl got caught valuing at my school

[@officiallychelz6508]

Vaping**

[@imnobodywhoareyouu]

Yep, at that age all I wanted was to be a pokemon trainer

[@jisoo1571]

As much as we act like they don’t, parents play a role in this. Edit: some of you clearly failed reading comprehension “played a role” ≠ 100% responsible. I’m not arguing in the comments with anybody who’s not even read my comment properly. Not to mention many of you are confusing parenting and raising a kid with control. No, you can’t control a kid 24/7 but in what way did I say that was right?

[@pbf2681]

A huge huge role, the mum certainly seems quite clueless and CLEARLY smokes herself

[@CatsandJP]

@@pbf2681That is a judgemental comment on the mother smoking..you simply don’t know that..

[@aa-fw2pw]

It's true. Parents definitely play a massive role. But as a parent myself, and knowing lots of other good parents who struggle with their teens, the authority of parents over their children has become so diminished. Over the most trivial of things, there are kids who threaten their parents with ringing childline. As a result, they have become so defiant that they simply do not do as they are told.

[@jessieb7290]

14 is when you do make your own choices and what was the mum supposed to do?! Also parents even think that baking is harmless without being aware of anatomy.

[@maddicruz1405]

@@aa-fw2pweducation, respect and discipline starts at a very young age not when they are teenagers. It’s easy to shy away from your responsibility.

[@Leda98]

I stopped vaping and smoking after 4 years and I come back to this video as a continuous reminder of how awful vaping is and how dangerous. So glad Sarah was ok, very scary.

[@lalalalaaAa123]

Glad you’re ok too, Jennifer! Congrats on quitting!

[@Leda98]

@lalalalaaAa123 appreciate that. Anyone else trying to stop smoking:- you got this!

[@Lbf5677]

After four years old?? Wow ,(just kidding)

[@hollywing3038]

I'm so glad you managed to quit. I bet you feel so much better now. ❤

[@JenJams1]

It's good to regularly remind yourself why you are not doing something.

[@mondrella627]

They need to show this in schools! I’m flabbergasted with the amount of kids vaping starting from the age of 12/13😦 there parents need to step in if they want there children to see the age of 40

[@itscoco5716]

most parents don’t know. my friend gets hers from her brother

[@user-vm3hm9fo1j]

Everytime i go the toilet i get a whiff off fruit but idm bc it smells nice and it’s not me ruining my lungs 😭🤣

[@Sophie.Violet.]

@@user-vm3hm9fo1jhate to tell you this but it is actually harmful to you inhaling the second hand smoke

[@up-uw4op]

20 years ago i knew kids her age that had parents buying them cigarettes

[@Rise-and-Shine333]

Why? It’s just replaced cigarettes which a lot of kids that age used to do. This ain’t nothing new

[@burppp.]

My older brother died of pneumonia because of his constant vaping, this is a serious issue and almost everyone is treating this lightly.. it’s like “well we all gonna die one day anyways”

[@PhoenixTheCat.]

I'm sorry for your loss

[@Loveluellar]

these are the real consequences of vaping or smoking. i am the girl’s age, and i would never want to try. i’m sorry for your loss though.

[@HexualSealing-uz6wi]

​@@PhoenixTheCat.Loss*

[@PhoenixTheCat.]

@@HexualSealing-uz6wi Thanks! I didn't notice that.

[@hannahk1306]

The biggest mistake was ever allowing these things to go on general sale. Vapes were supposed to be a stop smoking aid, so they should have been available on prescription only or at least only allowed to be sold by pharmacies.

[@munterboy9298]

Yea then they start making all the flavors

[@MHSMagicLuver]

I’m a medical provider and they are actually not a stop smoking aid. The only things approved for quitting smoking are OTC things like gum, patches, losanges, and then the two prescribed medications (Chantix and bupropion)

[@ProblematicTube]

@@MHSMagicLuver They do work however. It is VERY easy to start on high nicotine and lower down to nothing on a vape. Can be done easily over 6 mths without even thinking about it or feeling anything different. Weird how you wouldn't want as many people to stop as possible?

[@Honey_Dale]

​@@MHSMagicLuverI'm a medical subscriber. You are wrong.

[@moneyblue8466]

Or dispensaries

[@ldnroses]

The headlines they were putting up saying “teenager” but what’s terrifying is she’s not even a teenager yet!! Still a pre-teen, I have a cousin her age and I can’t imagine him and his friends vaping, these are children! I’m glad she’s making a recovery but it’s horrible to know she has life-long issues now

[@ForeverYoung20092]

She’s practically a teen. Why is it ok to call a 29 year old a 30 year old ? But not ok to refer to a 12 year old as if they are almost 13?

[@natalied662]

@@ForeverYoung20092 girl what a 29 is a 29 yr old who is calling them a 30 year old

[@sydneycloud5930]

@@ForeverYoung20092but its also like saying a 17 year old is a grown up. It just doesn’t sound right.

[@ForeverYoung20092]

@@sydneycloud5930 They are practically 18 so they technically are. What is a few months anyway ? I will use a personal example which is more than a couple months or a year of a gap, I am age 37 I get told I am almost 40 by some people that know me. Almost 40 would be age 39 to be exact. But what I have noticed People always round ages up in the American culture .

[@Kalash74]

​@@ForeverYoung20092 she isnt a teen, shes a preteen. You become a teenager at 13 "thirTEEN"

[@lilylolly8757]

Massive case here of a kid thinking they are more grown up than they are and go against what their parent tells them because they think they know better. I hope she manages to improve and go some way to getting better.

[@jessieb7290]

People still don’t know enough about vaping.

[@maddicruz1405]

@@jessieb7290 maybe not but evidence so far suggests it helps people come off cigarettes but it also suggests that non-smokers starting vaping tend to move to smoking cigarettes. In any case if you are inhaling a foreign substance into your lungs then surely it cannot be good for you.

[@muzzy562]

the video clearly shows it’s peer pressure not that she wanted to be adult or she was rebelling. it’s addicting, it’s trendy, it’s unregulated and it’s easy to get.

[@tgerule]

She speaks with a lot of confidence for a 12 year old! Wishing her the best in life going forward

[@toyosia8051]

It’s so sad seeing little kids going through this addiction that you usually only see adults going through. I’ve even seen kids who look about 8 vaping online. Hope everyone addicted to vaping or smoking gets the help they need.

[@josephinerawley6683]

Very brave mother and daughter to highlight this

[@jeffoleg4881]

😂

[@mary-annesade]

@@jeffoleg4881what’s funny

[@antman7673]

@@jeffoleg4881 It is helpful for awareness. Easier to duck and hide, then to tell the tale. Maybe this prevented other people from having problems.

[@holly_wood26]

I'm a teacher in K-8 school. We have about 1200 kids in the school and the 7th and 8th graders vape in the bathroom. It breaks my heart b/c while I don't teach 7th and 8th grade, so I am not w/ the kids, but knowing that my former students vape breaks my heart. It's sad for any kid or person, but when you know the kid it hits differently. We need to get serious about this and really try and stop this before it becomes even worse than it already is. I am happy this little girl is recovering from this horrible addiction.

[@MrBoLT__]

They all need Jesus the devil has blinded the world

[@yell0w-man]

its interesting because the 8th grade in my school make fun of people who vape. its 6th, maybe 7th, 9th and 10th who vape like theres no tomorrow.

[@cheeselouise]

"She had her phone taken off her when she was 9" Tells you all you need to know. A 9 year old shouldn't have their own phone full stop.

[@TrollsRus518]

i agree its the parents fault

[@watovit]

I was 9 in 2004 and my mom got me a flip phone with some minutes on it (no internet or unlimited data/texting/calling back then) so that I could check in when I was out playing and for emergencies. I never thought to abuse that privilege even if I could have because I was too busy playing outside, skateboarding, biking, being a kid... Things have changed so much.

[@elaine-s_joy]

I had a phone at 8 years old (over 2 decades ago), and it was crucial for me to communicate with my parents. Albeit nowadays a lot more children have phones and the capabilities of phones have changed drastically. But a child simply having a phone (like for basic communication and emergencies) is completely fine and even important

[@tinaansah2349]

I had a phone when I was nine but I needed it to speak with my parents and just in case something goes wrong. It was some busted up android tho lol😂

[@garyclarke9685]

No they shouldn't. Also the mum was too soft on her

[@victoriamoreno4966]

I get so frustrated when they say that vaping isn't as bad as smoking and I almost want to yell at them and say ITS STILL BAD!!

[@swanlove2002]

If we want kids to really stop smoking, vaping, doing drugs, or other things that actually harm them; first figure out *why* they’re doing it in the first place. Is it because they feel lonely or isolated? Are they experiencing traumatic events in their lives? Once you find the reason they turn to harmful activities, help them out with that problem. Eventually, they won’t feel the need to do such harmful activities.

[@100strawberries10]

Or it could be peer pressure or seening even being around smoke from birth, but us people need to look into it

[@scirvy]

It's definitely through curiousity, and then it's through wanting to fit in, and then it's addiction

[@ValenciaBritt]

I vaped maybe a handful of times and legit did it bc I thought the smoke looked cool however I did dp the 0 nic

[@MoreThanPeak1]

Drugs & actual cigarettes are different but to me i think with the vaping.. It doesn’t SEEM as bad to kids as a cigarette, its just something to do when ur hands get bored, it tastes fruity and easy to buy.. Thats why the kids are using them + now its popular so peer pressure aswell.. it seems like fun and harmful but through the whole process of puffing them your getting addicted to the nicotine at the same time thats how it gets u hooked.. I blame the companies who make them.. I can almost guarantee if all vapes were actual cigarette flavoured there would be way way less teens using them.. coz vapes have been around for years but they weren’t popular untill all the fun flavours got introduced to the mix, i’d say in 2021 I noticed them rapidly becoming popular.. even the way it’s advertised in every corner shop at the front, any child who likes buying sweets would be curious to try it tbh.. So they know what they’re doing 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@bonifiedeagle6128]

I don’t think the reasoning is that deep, it’s just because they ignorant to the effects and think it’s cool, vaping is advertised as non harmful not nicotine when in reality it’s just as bad or worse then cigarettes

[@SlimShadybby]

i started smoking at 13 and that lasted for about 2 years, i quit but when i was 16 my mate got me on these disposables that were all the hype, i got addicted to these more than smoking, so bad it was like my oxygen. My throat swelled up at 18, i could barley breathe, never ending chest cough and i had lumps in my sore throat, it wasn't anything serious thankfully but i quit and today i have been smoke free from everything for 6 months now:) I've never felt healthier, i breathe better, my voice sounds better, i don't get out of breath easily, i can be more athletic, my appetite is back, i don't feel as groggy and have as much fatigue anymore, QUIT BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE!!!

[@cosmiiqs1352]

Good on you! Stay healthy

[@SlimShadybby]

@@cosmiiqs1352 I’m in the gym daily and on healthy meal plans, my willpower is too strong to be going back to all that, I’ve got a business to focus on! Thank you:)

[@atrinzolghadr5330]

Good for you, congratulations 👏🏼

[@Rosie-nu5yi]

Good on u ur way cooler than all those

[@jaydenmckenzie2316]

The parents definitely played a part in this. How did she get the money to buy them in the first place?

[@gc4161]

How is she that tan ??? Literally doesn’t even look like her parents

[@lgracie33]

@@gc4161take it you don’t know her father??

[@mimiglamz22]

@@gc4161Yet you only see the presence of 1 parent. You know there are many kids who are mixed race right? Clearly her father is of black or Latino descent.

[@nightm1me]

lots of kids get pocket money at that age

[@jibbyjabs]

​@@gc4161do you think all kids just look only like their mum?

[@YunjinHwang-be6gl]

I am part of a group to raise awareness about vapes and E- cigarettes and cigarettes. I know a girl died from vaping at her age and im so thankful this girl got over her addiction!❤

[@paddy1144]

No, no you don’t! There has been 68 deaths reported as vape related and the youngest is 43 stop lying, people ignore liars. It’s not a good way to raise awareness

[@johndempsey99]

Out of curiosity how did she die ,the only toxin in vapes is nicotine which is not particularly harmful in the short term.

[@AmyAndThePup]

@@johndempsey99 The component used to get the nicotine and flavors into the lungs. At least here in the U.S., it's the same as what's in inhalers for asthma patients. Prolonged exposure and use can cause problems. I can't remember the chemical name--they said it early on in this video, I think. like you, I'm curious, thoough very sad to hear a child died from vaping :(

[@howdy01]

@@johndempsey99 The chemicals and smoke burn the lungs and damage them. It’s especially harmful for children as their immune system and lungs are still developing. The effects might only last short term but if your addicted then your vaping frequently enough for it to do potentially irreversible harm

[@Deedee48-jg9om]

I've been vaping for 10+ years and don't have any lung issues. @@howdy01

[@wtf5749]

I’m 14 and I’ve been smoking since I was 10 and I think this video game me the push I need to quit.

[@dal5871]

yes, you got this!! stay strong:)

[@JG1universe]

Hope you get better

[@orangeradishneo]

I commend you, truly. I highly suggest seeking advice from people who have quit and see what methods helped them. Good luck❤

[@Raiisingknye]

Yes! Quit you’ll thank yourself when your older (remember smoking/vaping doesnt make you cool dont feel pressured to relapse)

[@angelkat333]

Please tell an adult and get help not just with detoxing from the nicotine, but getting to the root issue of why you started vaping. If you can’t get help, please at least do this: [Grab a paper and pen] 1. Look up all the bad effects of vaping and write them down 2. Look up all the benefits of quitting and write them down 3. Write down your personal reason/s for quitting. Ex: to be a better role model for my siblings, to be a better athlete, to feel better. Whatever it is, this is the thing that motivates you to quit. Keep this paper where you can see it, like taped to a mirror or on a door you see a lot. Whenever you feel tempted to vape, go back to this paper. Still please reach out to an adult. It’s better to have an accountability partner because doing this alone is hard. 🤍

[@Ligitizzy]

My daughter started secondary school this year so is 11. The other week at the park she saw two boys from her year and they were vaping 😱 I’d never seen an 11 year old vape!!

[@stefaniekappes5426]

I was at chessington World of adventures in august and saw 2 teenage girls aged roughly 13-14 vaping, the worse bit was that they were with their mother!!! Acting all cool. Parents need to take accountability

[@LadyDianaFrancesSpencer.x]

That’s England for you

[@StarrieMoonlight]

It's a lot more common now in the younger years of secondary school. I was shocked when I found out the secondary school next to my sixth form had yr7s smoking and vaping a few years ago 😧

[@Star_angelY2k]

alot of 7th and 8th graders vape in my school. im in 10th and i could never

[@32446]

I was a teen in the 90’s and always saw kids as young as 11 smoking.

[@Owenutley]

Not finna lie the mom looks like she owns JUUL 💀

[@morgan.hasara]

😂😂😂

[@LadyQInspires]

😂😂😂😂 i was about to post this sAmeee comment lol idk why she look like she dooo

[@farhana6913]

A lot of kids are good at hiding them. You can get ones that look like USB sticks & they pay someone at school to buy them with skipping school dinner to pay for it. When I was at school a lot of kids had active concerned parents they could hide it from. It smells like a sweet body spray most teenagers use as perfume. Blaming parents is easy but i promise some of these kids had thr best strict parents. The issue is thr flavours appeal to kids & theres this false idea it doesn't cause harm amongst the kids

[@fatpinkteddy]

Exactly agree and the corner shops selling them to underage children.

[@OMGMyHypeBoyKeita]

good thing I’m really bad at being sneaky so I’d probably be caught if I ever did something like this, not like I ever would want to do anything like this

[@ivyyoung521]

Sarah you can be the change! Thank you for using your voice and speaking up.

[@-StayStar-]

The mom was so disappointed, she wanted to get out of there and cry.

[@Hayleigh077]

Her mum let her do it. Sarah and her best friend vaped in front of her most parents in our area just don’t care

[@heidikirsch9100]

​@Hayleigh077 are you outside of Dublin?

[@TrollsRus518]

the mom didn't care she only came on tv for her 5 minutes of fame

[@minan3372]

It makes me so sad how bad kids nowadays wanna grow up so fast 🥺🥺

[@rosalie3130]

Thank you for sharing your story this needs to be shown in schools!

[@freyamcintosh4041]

its mad to think they can't sell sweets and chocolates next to the tills in shops but can sell the disposable vapes

[@TrollsRus518]

why is it why should cigs and vapes been hidden away like were doing something illegal when we buy them its the parents fault that's she vaped not the shops

[@URFUTUREUK]

With all the array of fruity flavours and vibrant colours, it's not hard to see how children were drawn to them. Tobacco products had their labels taken away for this reason. So whoever invested in the vape companies really do need to question themselves.

[@jessieb7290]

Yeah these companies need to held accountable and make it clear to people what their products can do. Like cigarette companies.

[@URFUTUREUK]

@@jessieb7290 agreed.

[@bambiesdoomsday]

Fr!!!

[@JessScott47]

Big tobacco companies own the vape companies 🤷‍♀️ it’s awful man

[@Noname-oo9gn]

Yep and some with flashing lights that recharge.

[@gabriella125]

12 is outrageous. i'm not blaming her at all for this but my goodness i used to struggle with a vaping addiction which started when i was 14 but 12 surely isn't any better. im so glad she's doing better. May God bless her and her family!

[@Ggdesigns-xq8kd]

I was addicted to smoking from 14 to 16 and vaping from 17 to 18. Quit a while ago now but i am so lucky that i am okay. My brain probably wont recover as much as people who start as an adult because i grew up around nicotine but luckily i quit after such a small time. I was a smoker for longer than a vaper and honestly smoking felt like it was hurting me less.

[@shez4058]

Sorry, but as a mum myself to a ten year old girl and a younger one. Parents have a lot to answer for. At the end of the day, that girl was 9 years old when she first tried it, from a girl she was hanging on with who was 13 (who she didn't even consider as a friend). Number 1: what on earth was she doing hanging around with a 13 year old? As a parent, you get a feeling of what a family is like, why did the mother allow her to 'hang' with this girl who she didn't even consider a friend? Parents, have kids, but don't want the responsibility. Hence why they allow kids to do what they want.

[@dancerztalentz2587]

I hung around with kids on my estate a few years older than me (I was abt 10 they were about 12/13) it’s pretty normal for kids to play out with other kids in the area

[@hungrydachshund8236]

Bravo !

[@stefaniekappes5426]

Hence the reason why they join gangs and do illegal things because the parents dont care where their kids are. Totally agree with you. I have forbid my 14 year old from hanging out with someone because they were a bad influence. Her parents didn't care where she went or who she was with.

[@stefaniekappes5426]

Its out of sight out of mind with some parents

[@yelesomeus4534]

As a parent of too exceptionally well behaved kids, now young adults I totally disagree with your comment, yes, parents do have a lot to answer for but it’s a blinking hard job and there are no instructions. When I put down the law to my kids they followed it, some kids just rebel harder……sometimes it’s luck of the draw. You can guide kids but you can’t force them 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@that_eczema_girl]

Such a cutie pie. I hope she truly learned from this.

[@leigh-annadams1169]

She said a 7yr old was also given it... the person giving them should be charged

[@yell0w-man]

the person who gave them was 13 at the time, there isn’t too much punishment you can give.

[@imjustarandomblackgirl]

She can’t be charged since she’s a minor

[@TPCDAZ]

Poor parenting. Your 12 year old doesn't have a vaping addiction unless you allow them to.

[@2Savannah]

this is why y’all need to STAY SOBER YOU DONT NEED THAT STUFF STAY STRONG 💗

[@TrollsRus518]

are you daft she was sober vapes don't intoxicate you

[@shamistaaanthony7703]

Yes they do

[@sixtysecondvlog]

unfortunately she had to learn the hard way. However, best advice, don't listen to your friends.

[@stefaniekappes5426]

Parents are not parents anymore. They try to be the childs best friend. They dont have boundaries.

[@madtingz2288]

Kids are gonna do these things regardless if their parent lets them or not

[@stefaniekappes5426]

@@madtingz2288 you put boundaries in place for it not to happen.

[@madtingz2288]

@@stefaniekappes5426 yeah no it doesn’t work that way have you met teenagers 😂

[@stefaniekappes5426]

@@madtingz2288 yeah i have a 14 year old girl

[@stefaniekappes5426]

She knows boundaries, and she knows what the consequences are if she were to do something like that

[@jesshannay8657]

Sarah and her mum are amazing for speaking out about this. Thank you for using your voices for positive change

[@ellenalvesteffer6316]

Her Mum is SO FAR from amazing. BOTH of her parents a reason as to why her daughter struggles with these lifelong issues.

[@md-k08]

She is 12 going on 20. Thank goodness she is okay 🙏

[@lieke3043]

The parents definitely have a major role is this.

[@niamhturner1451]

in the cases when they are buying the vapes for the kids, yeah but not most of the time

[@Emma-wo7xd]

Did u even watch the video? She was vaping while at school and when she was caught with a vape she was disciplined by her mother. She cannot watch her daughter every second of every day. Very presumptive comment 🙄

[@Lollipop_Lexi]

You’re either not a parent or you’re a parent who is blissfully ignorant to the actual level of “control” you have on your kids and the very real issue of peer pressure. Peer pressure is not kids pressuring others to do things, it’s the developmentally normal issue of kids wanting desperately to fit in.

[@yell0w-man]

@@Emma-wo7xdi agreed with you until the last part discipline wont stop the addiction its not like a 14yr old smoker not having their phone will all of a sudden make them clean for the rest of their life… im not saying she shouldn’t be disciplined for what she did to be clear, im just saying that more should have been done.

[@garyclarke9685]

For sure it's a disgrace the parents allowing her to do this. My sons have never smoked anything because as they grew up I always talked to them about the dangers & that it was a disgusting habit

[@Currentchaosnews]

She made her honest feelings by saying I can't control her

[@mariamat1175]

I am really confused how she was allowed to do this, if my parents caught me vaping when I was 12 first they would slap that vape out of my hand and then they would slap my life and soul out of me 😂💀

[@laurab158]

REALLLL

[@DoyinVoice]

exactly. who is running this ship. what morals & values are being taught to be child ?

[@lc4life369]

Unfortunately im a smoker and one of the scariest times in my life was when i got an inhaler from my doctor to help with weezing that wouldnt go away after being recently sick. Within a day or two i was having the hardest time breathing. Kept taking inhaler thinking it would help but it only got worse. Took me almost a week to realize it was the inhaler. Turns out using an inhaler before smoking is way worse than just smoking. It can make your symtoms way worse because your opening up your lungs then putting smoke into them. If your someone who cant quit smoking and you end up with an inhaler you should just take the inhaler at night right before bed. That way you have alot of hours before smoking a cig or vaping

[@Soraine_]

Had to stop multiple kids trying to steal vapes at work, 2 must have been no older than 10. The world is crazy.

[@LadyDianaFrancesSpencer.x]

Why did this not shock me. This is England for you. Well I’m glad Sarah recovered ❤

[@blackqweenmars]

Real question, who is giving these children vapes💀 12 is crazy

[@RandyisacomingAI]

fr 💀

[@sofiastar2933]

i can see why she started. i started at 17, got hooked instantly and couldnt stop until i was 19. only did it cos my friend encouraged me and said "you should try it, the flavours are so nice" while she showed me her light up LED vape, looked cool and as someone with not many friends i thought it would help me get friends. i lost a lot of weight and was in brilliant shape but couldnt put the vape down, i also looked older too

[@dalebenton3354]

Vaping still really comes under smoking,Why is there so many Children Vaping now days at such young age ???? Why is shopkeepers even serving vapes to Children for ????

[@life_seeker6102]

I don’t think they are allowed to !

[@jessieb7290]

They should not be allowed to buy them till 18-21 years old. But even then I think they’d sneak them into backpacks etc anyway. Like she said if she wanted to do it she was going to. People need to learn about what can damage health. Although I guess most things can now.

[@dancerztalentz2587]

Most places that serve children are corner shops that just want money. A lot of kids are buying them from other kids with older siblings. The reason they’re doing it cos of the nice flavours & looking “cool”

[@fatpinkteddy]

@@dancerztalentz2587exactly In my area their is 2 corner shops that sell to high school and primary school children. The shops selling them to them should be shut down.

[@beckenham2020]

Around here the mums are buying it for their kids. I hate this area but here for work. Very uneducated, rude people that swear. All the kids vape. Kids are rude too all swear. Eugh.

[@Ooozb143]

I started smoking at around 13, it’s honestly terrifying. It’s so dangerous and things can escalate quickly. Parents play a big role in this. Talk with your children about these things. Don’t be mad at them if they come to you with these problems, just help them. Things will be alright❤

[@Aquigirlie]

When this popped up in my feed, I gasped my life out

[@roscaines-prentice3888]

The child said that over the last year she ‘was never without a vape’, how can her mother account for that? It seems that mother takes no responsibility whatsoever for what happened to her child, constantly saying ‘it could have happened to anyone’. But she had a vape on her every single day!

[@000caro555]

My sisters friend vaper blew up in his pocket and had severe burns round the hip and genital area. Extreme pain and now requires skin grafts.

[@jessieb7290]

Ohhh no. I hope she heals from that.

[@jessieb7290]

She should sue the company that sold it!

[@racheldemain1940]

@@jessieb7290 it wasnt her, it was a male friend.

[@Henry_Jr_Watsson]

@@racheldemain1940Good for him. Hope he never buys a vape ever again. Rather have some skin damage than losing a lung like this 12 year old girl unfortuntately :(

[@levimacdonald5188]

Glad she's ok heard ,lot's of stories like this !

[@nellie2816]

I was 16 when my dad found my vape, he threw it at my wall and it left a hole. I never picked up a vape ever since!!!!

[@TheDerangedBlood]

What parent allows their 12 year old to vape?! Parents need to take responsibility for their kids.

[@DoyinVoice]

exactly

[@BeforeThisNovember]

In the “smoking” world, vaping was both the best and worse thing to happen. I smoked for the majority of about 8 years, “only” around 8 a day on average. Then one day something switched in my brain and I quit cold turkey. No cravings ever. Then in lockdown, after being smoke free for 3/4 years I started again (like an absolute idiot). Well only a couple months in I thought let me switch to vapes and use that to ween off. Now I’m fully addicted to vaping and its WAY harder to quit. The nice flavours, the fact you can do it ANYWHERE, including sitting on your couch watching the TV (I never smoked indoors). The increased exposure to the nicotine getting you more and more addicted. I know I’ll quit soon because I’m feeling that tipping point approaching closer and closer - but it’s the hardest addiction I’ve kicked (and I used to be an opioid addict - that too I kicked cold turkey).

[@shondra6]

What a beautiful young girl... I hope she heals from this. 😢😢

[@MyNov09]

That picture of her in hospital cuddling a soft toy. Wants to make me bawl my eyes out. I hate this "pressure" for kids to grow up too early. It's rife and destructive.

[@evelinagleisner930]

This is so sad, glad she survived ❤

[@itseva3042]

One person I know started Vaping when they were 11, they got pressured into vaping and she is about 14 now and from what I have seen, she is still vaping, this society needs to stop influencing youngsters, non-smokers and people in general who aren't cig smokers, or else this could happen which is terrifying.

[@natalied662]

or parents should instill good values and educate their kids. i can tell you as a child i knew it was wrong to smoke

[@sunleo6161]

@@natalied662ignorant

[@natalielawrence8809]

Good on Sarah and her Mum for going public with this.. risking being critiqued in the hope of helping other people 🙏

[@danielletolentino6348]

I’m 19 and I deadass couldn’t breathe for 3 days straight I stopped smoking after

[@Esther_Grace]

Mom looks/sounds like smoker too. Huge factor here that no one is even addressing.

[@raerae7463]

A phone and a vape at 9 is wild.

[@lacyrussell6688]

I feel very blessed, growing up in a house where drugs were not a tattoo conversation even at very young age. My mother gave us the rundown of what drug addiction looks like and the effects. so I never had a desire to do hard drugs. I’m 37 years old.

[@tomorrowseve9642]

I’ve met her in real life at a school event, she is so nice and I never would’ve guessed!❤

[@thecat11112]

Mom looking like she’s been smoking since age 8 herself

[@OnlyLaxy]

fr 😂

[@hyperwave417]

It’s really not the mothers fault, it’s crazy hard to understand but like dermot was saying with cigarette smoke the smell clings to clothing so it can be detected easily, whereas vaping doesn’t.

[@ItzGabby1330]

69th like

[@DoyinVoice]

@@ItzGabby1330who's fault is it?

[@lynneharper3233]

They’ve pretty much made them look child friendly. Nice colours, nice flavours… of course kids are going to become addicted to them! Granted, kids have always tried smoking when young but vapes are next level!

[@breanneblaquiere2002]

My boyfriend has been smoking cigarettes for over 12 years and I’m surprised he hasn’t ended up in the hospital he smokes a pack in 2 days. He is trying to quit and has been asking me to motivate him and help him quit.

[@rminitials]

Get him "Allan Carr's Easy Way to Quit Smoking" It's a great book. My former boss bought me a copy and it helped me quit. Really helped me see smoking for what it really is. It's a short read and the first instruction specifically tells you not to quit yet until you're done with the book. So use that as a way to convince your bf to read it. It'll be a year for me in February. I've quit many times and it's still somewhat of a struggle occasionally but your bf can definitely quit too. Support him and he'll find his way. Good luck

[@sherrisolomon2843]

@breanneblaquiere... My mother was so desperate after smoking cig's between the ages of 18-40 something she decided to go for prayer when she attended a Sunday service at her church which totally helped her overcome the desire to quit along with I think using the patch. She only had a relaspe one time after.

[@davidrogan1292]

In Ireland they started to tax vaping. It's pretty sick because they waited for people to get totally hooked on vaping before making them taxable and it's the only reason why cigarettes are not ellagle.

[@littlemisslandlady5500]

You can’t just decide to tax something it’s a long process, everything takes ages to catch up, it’s all f***** but it’s the speed of the governments ability to take action that needs sorting it’s not some conspiracy. They banned plastic straws to save the turtles, next minute there’s disposable vapes flying out and god knows how many years they’ll stay in the ground for

[@jessieb7290]

Yeah when it first came out it was marketed or “targeted” to people with the slogan of it’s healthier then smoking. So many people I knew were doing it. But I told all of them it’s still smoking and your still putting smoke into your lungs.

[@user-fd4sh3zl5z]

Actually there suppose to abandon vapes in Ireland I saw on google the other day.

[@oliverjumelle]

They do sound irish.

[@sevenseasonsofbrown]

​@user-fd4sh3zl5z god i hope so, every single teenager i know vapes. although in dublin, it's quite difficult to find someone who doesn't smoke

[@laurenzo3579]

The Northern Ireland accent is hooking me so much as my own self is from there.

[@River-hz7gb]

She’s so brave to tell her story

[@Jisun.g]

It’s crazy how we’re the same age , have the same name, and both have asthma !

[@Prafik614]

”Vaping put my teenage daughter in a coma”, SHE ISN’T TEENAGER!! She’s a child!

[@bluecatjay5229]

12 years old What is wrong with the world! That age I was still playing with my Barbie’s and watching play school after school!

[@jasleneanderson8873]

She is such a lovely beautiful young girl. It's so sad

[@Scarlettshobbyhorsexequestrain]

im 11, and im scared to touch a vape tbh. Knowing all the damage that it can do to you and all the unknown chemicals it contains is terrifying. Now i know lots of people that vape, especially my age (even as young as 8). and they make me even more against vaping.

[@Yvngxblud]

Scares me how fast her symptoms happened

[@Blythe307]

The fact she was 12 and she already had an collapsed lung is just terrible 😢

[@DanielWilliams-tv3rd]

My eldest daughter is going into highschool in September this year (2024) and I see so many young kids with vapes. I think it's too much to hope that her "cool" friends don't try to ask to try it, but I really she doesn't get addicted like this girl, especially when I think about how energetic and cheerful she is now.

[@deeqaali2191]

I have never but I’m 14 and everyone does it in the toilet they call you weird when you don’t vape.Even tho there dying on the inside

[@allyjane6737]

prime example right there of peer pressure☹️. i'm glad you've never done it & i really hope it stays that way, its absolutely not something you wanna get into as you know especially from this video. i used to know this guy from elementary school (20yrs old when this happened) and he had only started vaping roughly 6 months or less before he ended up in the hospital from a collapsed lung on one side & his other lung was partially filled with fluid all due to vaping. please use these stories that unfortunately have had to happen to others in order to show them / others just how dangerous vaping really is🥺🙏🏼.

[@MT-em1fz]

She seems like such a smart girl. Mum is right, you can’t monitor your child 24/7, they will find a way. Today is the WORST time to be that age. I thank god I was homeschooled.

[@anitabooks888]

At twelve my siblings and myself weren't allowed out the yard. Couldn't go to friends houses, were told we had siblings to play with. Only allowed to go for music lessons once a week.

[@MV-ew6ty]

I hear ya on this!! So sad what is happening now to kids. 😢

[@Enochulate88]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😅

[@mariainfp]

I remember my parents gave my sister vapes when she was 4 years old. Thankfully she did not get addicted. Glad this girl has stopped

[@ChristinaG83]

The first minute she's smirking and so is the mom..I still feel like they think it's a joke😢

[@dgrei320]

Probably a nervous smirk. Mom was on the verge of tears recalling seeing her in the hospital bed. I doubt she thinks its a joke.

[@Art.and.Hamsters]

A lot of people start smiling/laughing when they’re feeling emotional to prevent them from crying or being sad.

[@mackenzieyoung7771]

Glad Sarah stopped. Its sad that she has permanent damage now. Glad lesson was learnt and she is trying to help others now. My message is don't let temptation get to you! Don't even pick it up even if people (Friends or Family have one). Don't try it won't get addicted simple. It shouldn't be about being popular or doing things that everyone else is doing as that not's always the best thing. Be yourself and keep yourself safe and healthy rather then trying to be like others. Everyone is different and should be there own person.

[@10ksubsswithnovids]

as an older teenager who vapes and used to smoke in high school, i think it’s disgusting to pressure someone into vaping, that’s what happened to me and i’ve been doing it for years now. i would never pressure someone into it and if they asked to try it i would be straight and just say “No”, but what’s even crazier in this situation as that the person who pressured her into doing it let her 7 YEAR OLD sister try it.

[@Voidsdigitaldiary]

The fact she still says mummy is actually scary she’s that young and already has lung damage

[@kenbob1071]

I remember when I was in 6th grade back in the 70s a few boys who were troublemakers in my class brought chewing tobacco to school. One kid tried it and swallowed it after chewing it b/c he didn't know he was supposed to spit it out. To this day I still remember the sick look on his face and everybody laughing at him. I never tried it btw.

[@paranoidgenius9164]

I've had a nicotine overdose & i felt absolutely terrible! I can only imagine what a 12 year old felt like!😮

[@ouryayommay9435]

its so sad to see how common this is. i just graduated high school last year (im in the US), and vaping is extremely prevalent. thankfully i didn't get addicted, but i knew that if i bought my own i would. my friends would do a similar thing, where they'd text during class to coordinate all going to the bathroom at the same time. between classes the bathroom was just chaotic, everyone passing it around. i had no idea it was so common in elementary and middle schools as well. its amazing that this young girl was able to break out of the cycle!

[@sabinekoch3448]

As a teacher, we try to check bathrooms and don’t generally allow kids to go together to the bathroom, but it’s really a problem.😊

[@ouryayommay9435]

@@sabinekoch3448 yeah my school did the same thing but unfortunately, even at such a young age, addiction can make people become very good at hiding things

[@bonniewhite8093]

Twelve and vaping, that's just sad, not even a teen yet! There's so many ways to be cool and excepted in this world young one and vaping isn't the answer I can tell you that much! ❤😅

[@Paul-cu2fc]

Yea like learning how to build an electric car, go karting, astronomy, space industry, science putting nuclear fission into a space craft, flying on SpaceX Dragon...

[@reisschancellor9753]

Such a smart little girl. Hope she can become a doctor or a nurse to help others in the future.

[@itsgettingdark1134]

@@hassyg4083 Judging by the way you formulate sentences I’d say the same about you 😂

[@stefaniekappes5426]

Not that smart. She wouldnt of done it in the first place.

[@augustalexander2647]

​@@stefaniekappes5426dude she's a kid 😂

[@stefaniekappes5426]

@@augustalexander2647 exactly. A kid with vape! You just answered it yourself. A KID!

[@riddlerosehearts8277]

​@@augustalexander2647 Don't care she risked her own life to "be like her friends" why should she be trusted with someone else's life in the future if she couldn't even look after herself

[@ChanBoogie310]

Let’s not be so quick to blame the parents every time something like this happens because most of time the don’t be the parents it be the time the kid isn’t under supervision it can be at school or even parents are out working.

[@genesis22able]

She on every program magazine you can imagine x

[@robyn220]

It’s so out of control. My oldest daughter is almost 19. Literally every single teenager she knows vapes. I can’t even think of one who doesn’t. I constantly try to talk to them about it. But to no avail unfortunately. It’s weird bc they all hate cigarettes and think it’s ridiculous to smoke cigs but they all are addicted to vaping. It’s really sad. In a decade or two we will see the outcome of all this!

[@Marie-Annelise]

Literally the younger version of Zendaya's character in Euphoria. In all seriousness, it's heartbreaking for someone so young to deal with addiction, let alone have a near-death experience from it.