Today’s teenagers are facing a unique set of modern challenges, from hiding tiny smokeless nicotine pouches in school washrooms to asking artificial intelligence for mental health advice.
According to 2022 data from Statistics Canada, 30 per cent of youth aged 15 to 19 have tried vaping, introducing an entirely new generation to nicotine addiction.
To understand how these growing trends are impacting local youth, The Lakeside Leader recently reached out to CASA Mental Health. Asad Qandhari, a mental health therapist with the organization, says that while the technology and products are new, the reasons teens use them are actually quite familiar.
When it comes to the widespread issue of youth vaping, Qandhari says the habit usually doesn’t start because a teenager is anxious or stressed.
“There are many different reasons youth may choose to vape. In my experience, the most common reason is peer pressure and wanting to fit in,” Qandhari says. “Vaping is often viewed by teens as being ‘cool,’ and can be a way for them to gain social approval.”
However, Qandhari warns that “what begins as an act of social peacocking, quickly turns into a physiological addiction.”
The way youth consume nicotine is also changing. While some teens mix their own vape juice, many are turning to smokeless nicotine pouches, commonly known by the brand name Zyn. These small pouches are growing rapidly in popularity because they are incredibly easy to hide.
“The concern with these products is that they are much more accessible and easier to conceal,” Qandhari says. “I’ve heard numerous reports of teens vaping inside school washrooms, malls and other establishments without getting caught. Nicotine pouches make consumption even easier.”
This addiction is especially hard on growing brains. Qandhari explains that as a person uses more nicotine, their brain gets used to the chemical and demands more of it just to feel normal.
“If there is excess nicotine in the brain, the body will grow more receptors. These extra desensitized receptors are what cause the feelings of withdrawal,” he says.
To make matters worse, a teenager’s brain is still developing, making it incredibly hard for them to ignore those physical cravings.
“Teenagers have an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex, which makes it difficult for them to manage and control their impulses,” Qandhari says. “This makes it more difficult for them to change their behaviour and ‘quit’ when feeling cravings.”
Beyond physical addictions, local experts are also warning families about how teens are navigating the digital world, specifically a growing reliance on AI chatbots for self-diagnosis and emotional support.
“The trouble with AI is the lack of transparency on where these applications are sourcing their data,” Qandhari says. “Apps like ChatGPT and Gemini do a broad search of the internet and share advice based on whatever relevant information they find. That includes information from unreliable sources.”
He points out that programs will often pull unverified comments from open forums like Reddit, which can result in teenagers receiving highly inaccurate advice. Furthermore, while a chatbot might sound comforting by using validating language and asking questions, it is simply running a computer script.
“In its current form, it cannot replace a clinician,” Qandhari says. “Most research on therapy has found the most important factor for success is the therapist-client relationship, so it’s debatable if AI will ever be able to replace true human contact.”
Christopher Noftall, executive director of Rising Above, echoes those concerns about losing real connections in the digital age.
“I think that we are meant to have real, intimate, genuine human connection and interaction, and no form of technology can ever replace the relationships that we have with other human beings,” Noftall says.
He notes that while technology can be a blessing, leaning too heavily on artificial intelligence can severely limit a teenager’s personal growth.
“Relying on AI search engines such as ChatGPT could have an adverse effect on our critical thinking skills, our ability to research and our problem-solving abilities,” Noftall says.
Coupled with the heavy use of algorithm-driven platforms, Noftall says the digital world can quickly become isolating.
“Overuse of social media can cause us to have deep-seated feelings of insecurity, jealousy and rob us of joy and appreciation for who we are and what we have,” he says.
Ultimately, both experts suggest that balance and boundaries are the best tools moving forward.
“As long as technology is balanced and not overused in our lives, it could add to our lives and not take away from them,” Noftall says.
For now, Qandhari advises parents and teenagers to treat AI like a regular search engine and always double-check its sources. However, he says the technology could eventually be beneficial if developed safely.
“If AI platforms were able to identify questions about mental health and respond by providing users with a list of relevant mental health resources, they may become a useful tool in identifying and supporting teens in crisis,” Qandhari says.
Armaan Khanna
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter