A psychologist has explained why vaping can become addictive, even though it’s often viewed as less habit-forming than cigarettes.
Vapes are frequently promoted as a ‘healthier’ option than traditional smoking, but they can still bring a range of problems.
And even if someone only uses one now and then, it’s still possible to develop a dependence on vaping.
Although vaping is commonly used as a tool to help people quit cigarettes, concern has been rising for years about how many young people are taking it up in the first place.
In 2023, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told LADbible and said: “While vaping is a preferable alternative to smoking for adults, we are concerned about the rise in youth vaping, particularly the increasing use of disposable vaping products.
“We are exploring a range of measures to address this – including clamping down on children accessing vapes illegally, and those who are getting them hooked on nicotine.
“It’s right for the government to do all it can to protect children from addiction.”
Australian researcher and psychologist Claire Wakefield, who works with the Minderoo Foundation, discussed the ongoing appeal of vaping in early 2024 during an appearance on Abbie Chatfield’s It’s A Lot podcast — and shared why the habit can tip into addiction.
Wakefield also outlined warning signs that suggest vaping may be shifting from casual use to something more concerning.
She said: “The clues for me that I reckon are worrying, is when you start thinking about it when you don’t want to think about it.
“You wake up in the morning and the first thing you think is, ‘Where’s my vape?’ Or if you get, like, anxiety about wondering where I’m going to get my next one.”
She went on to describe a case she encountered in which a woman’s vaping had escalated to the point it was affecting her physically — including the taste of her vomit.
Wakefield added: “She says she knew she had a problem when her vomit started tasting like vape.
“Strawberry-flavored vomit, because she’d had so much vape. If you Google ‘Vape burns’, it’s not pretty.”
With that in mind, many health experts would argue it’s worth considering quitting entirely so your body has time to recover.
Superintendent Lead Pharmacist and Director of Pyramid Pharmacy Group Amir Boghal has said that because vaping is relatively new compared with smoking, researchers are still building a clear picture of long-term lung recovery.
He added: “What we do know from existing research is encouraging in some respects.
“If someone stops vaping, their lungs can show improvement over time, particularly in terms of inflammation and mucus clearance.
“However, whether complete healing occurs depends on different factors including how long someone vaped, their age when they started, their overall lung health, and whether they have underlying conditions like asthma.
“The key point is that stopping vaping allows your lungs to begin healing immediately, even if complete restoration to pre-vaping baseline isn’t guaranteed.”