Vaping Addiction

What Is Vaping?

Vaping is the common word to describe inhaling aerosol through an electronic device, such as electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes).

E-liquid or “vape juice” in these vaping products contains nicotine, flavorings, and sometimes other chemicals. The device heats the e-liquid until it becomes vaporized, which the user inhales.

Common types of vaping devices can include: 

• E-cigarettes: Most similar to traditional cigarettes and are usually disposable. (Example: Blu and Vuse)
• Vape pens: Compact, pen-shaped devices with rechargeable batteries. (Ex: JUUL and Kandypens)
• Pods: Small, portable devices that are disposable or have refillable pods. (Ex: Elf Bar)
• Box mods: Larger devices with customizable features, including adjustable power and temperature settings. (Ex: Vaporesso Gen)

Unlike regular cigarettes, vaping devices are NOT tobacco products, so they don’t produce any smoke when used, and the experience of vaping versus traditional smoking often feels different for the user (since vapor is denser than smoke).

What Substances Can Be Vaped?

Most vaping devices contain e-liquid with nicotine, though some contain nicotine-free e-liquid options for those who want to vape but reduce or avoid nicotine consumption.

Vaping devices can also vape other substances, such as:

• CBD (cannabidiol) oil
• THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) concentrates
• Herbal blends

The above-listed options are legal—of course, assuming marijuana usage is within the law of your state. However, some illegally made vaping devices have been created to contain harmful substances, including spice/K2, methamphetamine, fentanyl, and other dangerous drugs.

What Is Considered Vaping Addiction?

Vaping addiction happens when a person becomes dependent on the nicotine in their vape product. Through physical dependence and the psychological habits formed around vaping, addiction typically follows.

When someone vapes, they inhale the vaporized nicotine, which quickly spreads from the lungs to the bloodstream and the brain in just seconds.

Once nicotine reaches the brain, it causes a flood of dopamine (part of your brain’s reward center). It also wears off rather quickly, causing users to go back for more vape hits to experience those feel-good chemicals again and again.

A person who is addicted to vaping might experience the following:

• Cravings for nicotine
• Strong desire to vape, even if there are negative consequences
• Continuing to vape even if you want to quit (or being unable to quit after trying)
• Needing to vape more often or at higher nicotine doses to get the same effect (tolerance)
• Experiencing nicotine withdrawal symptoms when trying to cut back or quit
• Lying about or hiding vaping habits
• Spending too much money on vape products, sometimes in place of more essential expenses
• Vaping in inappropriate situations or places (like an airplane or restaurant)

Health Risks of Vaping

While vaping exposes users to fewer harmful chemicals than cigarette smoking, leading health professionals urge people to understand that vaping still comes with health risks.

Research indicates that vaping can increase your chances of developing asthma and THC. At the same time, other data has shown that serious lung injury can occur from vaping—especially if the e-liquid or vape product was a “black market” purchase.

Immediate and short-term health effects of vaping include:

• Coughing
• Headache
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea
• Irritation to the eyes
• Dry mouth or throat

Over time, vaping can cause additional health issues, such as:

• Impact on brain development, especially in young people
• Nicotine addiction
• Inflamed gums
• Asthma
• Chronic bronchitis
• EVALI (e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury)
• Lung disease or lung scarring (a.k.a. popcorn lung)
• High blood pressure
• Heart problems

Some of the above symptoms happen as a result of using illegally manufactured vape products, which have been known to contain Vitamin E acetate and other harmful chemicals.

Concerns About Vaping and Young People

The prevalence of vaping and vape addiction—especially among adolescents and young adults—is a rapidly growing public health concern.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 2.55 million U.S. middle and high school students reported current (past 30-day) use of e-cigarettes in 2022, with most using flavored e-cigarettes.

In addition, the National Youth Tobacco Survey found that more than 2.1 million young people—an average of 1 in 4—use e-cigarettes.

Concerningly studies on nicotine show that young people are much more at risk for developing nicotine addiction, which impacts brain development and increases their chances of struggling with nicotine addiction well into adulthood.

Research also indicates that adolescents and teens who use e-cigarettes are more likely to progress to smoking combustible cigarettes, which are even more harmful to their physical and mental health.

Treatment for Vaping Addiction

Vaping addiction treatment will be the same as treatment for smoking cigarettes, which will usually be a combination of tools and techniques.

The best approach will vary for each person. Still, you’ll probably want to consider some form of smoking cessation tool along with outside support, whether that’s through peers at self-help groups or a mental healthcare professional (or both).

Medication and Smoking Cessation Tools

To help you quit vaping, you might consider using common smoking cessation tools, such as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) and stop-smoking pills. Even though you aren’t smoking traditional cigarettes, the chemical component of your addiction is the same: nicotine.

Typical NRT products include:

• Nicotine gum
• Nicotine patches
• Nicotine lozenges
• Nicotine inhalers
• Nicotine nasal spray

In addition, your doctor or healthcare provider might recommend a stronger solution in the form of quit-smoking medications.

Most commonly, the two drugs used to help people quit nicotine are:

• Bupropion (Welbutrin) is an antidepressant that helps stabilize your mood and reduce nicotine cravings.
• Varenicline (Chantix) is a drug made just for quitting smoking that removes any positive effects of nicotine and helps with nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

Behavioral Therapy Options

You might consider behavioral counseling to help you quit a vaping addiction—especially if you have vaped for a long time or smoked cigarettes before your vaping habit.

Behavioral therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) help you examine your vaping triggers and what other motivations you have behind vaping.

Through sessions with your therapist, you’ll work on rewiring your brain to create new associations and learn to avoid triggers, deal with cravings, and eventually move past your desire to vape at all.

Support Resources

One of the best tools when you quit any addiction is having peer support. Groups like Nicotine Anonymous, online forums, and even quit-smoking apps can help keep you motivated, hold you accountable, and celebrate your accomplishments throughout your quitting journey.

This is by no means a complete list, but some popular resources include:

• Smokefree.gov
• Nicotine Anonymous (NicA)
• SmokefreeTXT
• Freedom From Smoking®

For more tips on how to quit vaping, you can also visit our page on how to quit smoking and vaping.

Get Help for Vaping Addiction

If you’re ready to quit vaping for good, you can talk to your primary doctor or schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider to discuss your options. You can also check out Smokefree.gov for resources and support, the CDC’s Guide to Quitting Smoking for additional guidance, Quit Vaping for strategies and support, and the American Lung Association’s Quit Smoking for tips and support.