People are quitting vaping for another hazardous habit

Recent data from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) indicates that some smokers and dual users who stop vaping are reverting to traditional cigarettes rather than quitting nicotine altogether. Trent Carter, a board-certified nurse practitioner and CEO of Renew Health in New Mexico, explains that vaping can become a constant, unconscious habit throughout the day, whereas cigarettes feel more like a defined episode that gives users a greater sense of control. E-cigarettes deliver highly concentrated nicotine salts, meaning users absorb large doses with each puff, making withdrawal symptoms—such as intense cravings, irritability, sleep disturbances, and brain fog—particularly severe. Because high-potency vapes drive up physical tolerance, standard quitting aids like patches or nicotine gum often feel inadequate without also addressing underlying behavioral and psychological factors like anxiety or insomnia. Carter notes that early public messaging framed e-cigarettes as a safer, doctor-approved alternative, giving consumers a false sense of security about how difficult quitting would be, while their elevated nicotine consumption can lead to blood pressure spikes, elevated heart rates, and heightened anxiety. Addiction specialists warn that switching to cigarettes reintroduces harmful toxins, tar, and carbon monoxide, and instead recommend medically supervised strategies combining behavioral therapy with gradual nicotine reduction. Carter emphasizes that the goal should be to treat the underlying dependence itself rather than simply finding another way to consume nicotine, advising those struggling to consult a licensed addiction or mental health professional for a personalized recovery plan.

(Source：New York Post)