Stealth Vaping: How Teens are Hiding Vapes in Plain Sight

You might be looking right at your child’s vape — and still have no idea.

That is the current reality of stealth vaping. With vape devices now being designed to look more and more like everyday items, teens get more creative than ever at hiding them. Your middle school or high school student may have a vape right next to you or in their room, and you could easily miss it.

These devices are disguised, discreet and often right under your nose. If you want to keep up with your child’s health, you have to know what you’re looking for. Here’s what you need to know.

Disguised as Everyday Objects

Today’s tobacco companies and vape manufacturers know exactly how to reach your teen — discretion. Many devices are created with the intent to be easily hidden in plain sight, doubling as everyday items you would never think twice about. Some even function just as the object they are mimicking.

Here are some things you may see vapes disguised as:

• Working pens, markers or highlighters.
• USB flash drives.
• Watches that tell time, looking like smart watches.
• Makeup items such as lipstick, mascara and compacts.
• Wearables like backpacks (especially those that look like hiking bags) and hoodies (especially those with the ends of the hoodie strings tucked into tiny chest pockets).
• Phone cases (especially bulky ones).
• Asthma inhalers or other medical devices.
• Car key fobs.

Products like these are marketed toward our children for stealth, allowing them to vape in class, in public or at home in secret.

If you want to see examples of how easily these devices can hide in plain sight, watch TODAY’s experiment.

On the Go: Hidden Vapes in Plain Sight

Many teens carry their vapes with them without raising suspicion and to avoid leaving their devices where they could be spotted. There are a few common ways you may see this happening.

First, many teens hide their devices on their person. Think of how easy it is for them to:

• Tuck a vape into the waistband of their pants or shorts.
• Slip the device into their sleeve to keep it in reach.
• Hide it in their shoe, where no one is likely to look.
• Stash it in a rarely used pocket in a jacket or bag.

Another way they may discreetly carry a vape around is within other items. Some teens may stash their vapes by emptying out hygiene items, such as:

• A bottle of lotion.
• A container of deodorant.
• A prescription bottle.
• A feminine hygiene wrapper like a pad or tampon.

Something else to be on the lookout for is items that are made to stash things like money and valuables. Often, these are marketed for travel since they are standard items like:

• Water bottles.
• Pens and other writing utensils.
• Scrunchies with pockets.
• Car keys.
• Power banks.
• Lint rollers.
• Charging bricks.
• Canned food.
• Light bulbs.
• And so many other things.

These come in all shapes and sizes but are often used to conceal a vape due to their discreet appearance. We recommend doing your own research to look into these items because stash items can look like virtually anything.

Hidden At Home

You’re not likely to find a vape device just lying around. If you suspect your child is using, you’ll have to really be a detective to find evidence. Teens often go to great lengths to hide their devices in areas adults may not think to look or places they don’t think parents will invade. Check these places in their bedrooms and bathrooms:

• Drawers, especially socks and underwear drawers.
• Pockets in their jackets and bags as well as any tears in the linings they could store their vapes in.
• Computers or other electronic devices with big cavities (don’t skip checking the USB ports, as many devices charge by USB).
• Pens, markers and other writing utensils (uncap anything that doesn’t look familiar).
• Bedding and stuffed animals (check pillowcases and tears in plushies).
• Gaming or desk chairs with zippers.
• Under mattresses or inside them.
• Behind hanging canvases, on shelves or other wall art.
• Inside books (see if any books are hollowed out, such as old educational books).

These aren’t just random spots — many are often overlooked by adults.

Know What You're Really Looking For

Vaping culture has evolved — and so have the ways it’s being concealed. Stealth vaping is all about staying under the radar, and the market of discreet and disguised products is continuing to grow.

If you’re a parent or guardian, it’s your job to ensure your child is being safe and not putting their health at risk. Being aware of these secret tactics is the first step in protecting your child. The more you know, the better prepared you are to talk to them and guide them.

Not all teens vape, but those that do are at risk. Check out our other guides to set yourself up for success:

• Signs Your Child is Vaping, Smoking or Chewing Tobacco
• How to Talk to Your Child About Vaping

See our sources for yourself!

Find a list of our other sources below. Note that you’ll find a variety of sources from various organizations, news outlets and even online forums where vape users discuss how to hide their devices amongst themselves. And remember — do your own research, stay curious and keep communication open.

Sources: QuitTobaccoSD, Healthline, Mirror, Addiction Prevention Coalition, VapeGuardian, SmokeFreeTeen, EX Program, TODAY Show, Reddit (r/electronic_cigarette, r/teenagers, r/FLMedicalTrees), Quora

Help Your Child Quit

If your child is 13 or older, the SD QuitLine is a great tool to help your child through their quit. Learn about the programs here.

Need other options? SmokeFreeTeen is a great place to start, or the Truth Initiative’s EX Program can offer great text support.