Smoking cigarettes have become less common and popular over time. But another, potentially more insidious habit has taken its place: vaping. In fact, vaping is now more popular than ever, especially among teenagers and young adults. According to the FDA¹, approximately 2.5 million middle and high school US teenagers currently use e-cigarettes. Many of these teens face a high risk of vaping addiction.

Let’s take a closer look at vaping, vaping addiction, and health concerns that parents should know about.

Vaping Explained

“Vaping” is the act of inhaling water vapor made by an electronic cigarette, also called an e-cigarette. Individuals can also “vape” with any other vaping device.

Simply put, vaping devices like vape pens and e-cigarettes heat a liquid until it becomes water vapor. The water vapor is then inhaled by the user. The e-liquid or “vape juice” usually contains nicotine, oil, marijuana distillate, and various flavors. In this way, vaping resembles the act of smoking a cigarette, though without fire or real smoke being present.

Health Concerns Associated with Vaping

While vaping may not be as unhealthy as smoking a cigarette or cigar, there are serious health concerns that everyone should be aware of. Common vaping health risks² include but are not limited to:

• A greater likelihood of trying other nicotine drugs, such as cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, etc.
• The risk of addiction to nicotine. Most e-cigarettes contain water or juice with nicotine, and nicotine is just as addictive in vaping devices as it is in cigarettes
• A higher risk for anxiety and depression. Nicotine can have negative effects on memory, concentration, self-control, anxiety, and depression, particularly in developing brains
• A higher risk of impotence or sexual dysfunction in men
• A higher risk of sleep problems, such as insomnia
• A higher risk of chronic bronchitis
• A risk of lung damage, including the possibility of lung cancer or other life-threatening health issues

No matter how often an individual vapes, vaping even once exposes them to health concerns and the possibility of further addiction. In addition, many parents worry that when their teenagers start using vaping devices, they will be at a greater risk of trying “harder” drugs such as cocaine, alcohol, and more.

Can You Become Addicted to Vaping?

Yes. Vaping is addictive because vape juice always includes nicotine or marijuana distillate. Both nicotine and marijuana are psychologically and physiologically addictive, though nicotine is more addictive than marijuana.

In any case, it’s definitely possible to become addicted to vaping after just a single try. Many teenagers may be at a higher risk of becoming addicted to vaping because of peer pressure and social situations. For example, many of their friends may use vaping devices, so they go along with it and become addicted as a result.

Over time, vaping addiction can lead to long-term health convocations and social consequences, such as:

• Loss of concentration or focus in school, which may be associated with decreased grades or reduced academic performance
• Loss of interest in family activities and social functions that don’t include vaping

Most importantly, vaping addiction may make teenagers much more likely to become addicted to cigarettes.³ The more young adults vape, the more they may become tolerant of the small amount of nicotine contained within vape juice. As a result, they could seek out higher concentrations of nicotine, which are available in cigarettes and cigars.

How to Overcome Vaping Addiction

While vaping addiction can be difficult to deal with, you don’t have to tackle this problem alone. In fact, the best way to overcome vaping addiction yourself or to help your teenager overcome vaping addiction is to seek out specialized support.

Rehab facilities, therapy, and detox programs all offer the social and educational resources a person addicted to vaping needs to succeed. In many cases, vaping addiction is treated by ceasing vaping activities and replacing those habits with healthy alternatives, such as exercise.

However, individuals are different, so individualized vaping addiction treatment plans may be necessary. That’s why contacting dedicated vaping addiction treatment centers in your area is a good idea.

Contact Clear Life Recovery Today

Those addicted to vaping deserve all the support they need to overcome vaping addictions and other problematic behaviors. At Clear Life Recovery, our trained specialists can assist with a dedicated young adult rehab program for teenagers or other addiction programs that offer holistic, behavior-focused therapies.

For example, our young adult rehab program offers individual and group addiction therapy programs, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other treatment options. Anyone with a vaping addiction may benefit from detox services, residential treatment services, and extensive emotional support are just the beginning of what we offer at Clear Life Recovery.

There’s no reason to wait with something as serious as vaping addiction. Contact us today.

 

Sources:

[1] https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/youth-and-tobacco/results-annual-national-youth-tobacco-survey

[2] https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html

[3] https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/e-cigarettes.html