How To Quit Vaping And Prevent Withdrawal

Quitting a vape can be difficult without a plan, and without the right support in place to help you manage symptoms of withdrawal and other common triggers for relapse.

Seeking professional help through a detox center or addiction treatment provider may also be recommended if you are unable to cut down on vaping on your own.

What Drugs Are Commonly Vaped?

When most people refer to “vaping,” also known as e-cigarette use, they are typically referring to the vaping of tobacco products or marijuana, a drug with mixed legal status.

But people in the United States, including high school students and other young people, have also reported vaping other types of drugs, including alcohol and kratom.

Illicit drugs like methamphetamine (meth), ketamine, and LSD have also reportedly been added to vaping liquid.

How Do You Know When It’s Time To Quit Vaping?

Addiction to nicotine or other commonly vaped drugs can have effects on your mental health, your relationships with others, and cause other health and quality of life issues.

Questions to ask yourself if you’re considering quitting a vape may include:

• Do you rely on vaping just to get through the day?
• Is vaping affecting your physical health or mental health?
• Is vaping interfering with responsibilities like work or school?
• Do you feel unable to cut down on or stop vaping?
• Is vaping causing financial trouble or legal troubles?

A lack of control over one’s vaping habits, in particular, is a common reason people make the decision to quit, in addition to short-term and long-term health concerns.

How Long Does It Take To Quit A Vape?

Nicotine withdrawal from smoking cigarettes or vaping can last up to a month or more.

Factors like quitting cold-turkey, or quitting multiple drugs at a time, may affect this timeline, and the severity of withdrawal symptoms, which can make you feel physically ill.

What Are The Side Effects Of Quitting Vaping?

The side effects of quitting vaping can vary depending on which drug you typically vape — for example, tobacco, marijuana, or illicit drugs like ketamine.

Withdrawal side effects may begin within the first 24 to 72 hours of quitting, if you’ve developed what’s known as dependence from frequent, chronic vaping.

Learn about what happens to your body during withdrawal.

Tips For Quitting A Vape

Getting off nicotine and putting down the vaping device is possible. Here are some tips:

Create A Quitting Plan

Don’t just wing it. Make a plan for managing withdrawal, managing cravings, and preparing to overcome temptations to pick up a vaper when and if they come.

Build A Support System

Ask friends and family to offer support and hold you accountable to your decision to quit tobacco.

For instance, if you need to be distracted from nicotine cravings or to help manage withdrawal symptoms, family members could help with this.

Consider Vaping Alternatives

Nicotine patches, lozenges, nicotine replacement therapy, and other smoking/vaping alternatives can be useful tools to help you to stop smoking and stay vape-free for good.

Ask For Help If You’re Struggling

It’s not easy to quit smoking or vaping. If you’re having a hard time or struggling with addiction, don’t wait to ask for help from a healthcare or detox provider.

Is Vaping Safe?

Vaping tobacco, THC, or other drugs can for some become a compulsive habit.

While some studies show vaping tobacco, for instance, can be less harmful than smoking traditional cigarettes, that doesn’t mean it’s completely safe or risk-free.

Health effects associated with vaping include:

• nicotine addiction
• lung injury
• exposure to toxic chemicals
• high blood pressure
• possible effects on brain development (for young adults)

The use of tobacco vaping devices may also still carry a risk for cardiovascular disease and chronic lung disease, according to the Johns Hopkins Institute.

Find Help For Quitting Vaping And Addiction Today

Stopping use of substances isn’t always easy, but professional help is available. To find a detox program near you, call our helpline for more information today.