Quit Like a Winner

The first time Jordyn tried vaping was right before seventh grade. “I didn’t like it at first,” she recalls, but that soon changed. “All of a sudden, I just craved it,” says the Pennsylvania senior, 17. “I couldn’t stop.” Without realizing it, Jordyn had become hooked on nicotine, the stimulant in the vape. Soon she was spending about $40 a month on vape pens. She went to the bathroom to vape during class and snuck vape breaks during cheerleading practice.  

As Jordyn found out, it can be incredibly easy for teens to get addicted to nicotine. That’s because teens’ brains are still developing, says Dr. Christian Thurstone. He’s a doctor who studies addiction in teens. According to Thurstone, a teen can become addicted to nicotine even if they use it just once a week. “That’s just how potent it is for the developing adolescent brain,” he says. 

Another reason vaping is so addictive is that companies try to make their products appeal specifically to teens. For example, many vapes and other smokeless tobacco products are available in fruit or candy flavors. The companies that make them want teens to get hooked on their sweet-tasting products so they’ll be lifelong customers.

Once you become addicted to nicotine, you may experience unpleasant side effects if you stop using it. “I’d start feeling anxious, and my back would itch,” Jordyn says. Other side effects can include headaches, nausea, moodiness, and trouble focusing. 

Your first attempt to stop vaping might fail. In fact, most teens don’t successfully quit smokeless tobacco products the first time they try. That doesn’t mean you won’t be able to eventually succeed. If you have a setback, think about what you could do better the next time, then try again. 

It’s also normal to feel a bit crabby for the first few days of going vape-free, says Dr. Thurstone. “You might feel a little sad or irritable, and that’s OK,” he says. “Have some compassion for yourself.”

For Jordyn, the turning point came when her mother convinced her to see a doctor about her vaping habit. The doctor prescribed a medication that helped reduce her cravings for nicotine. A few months later, Jordyn was sitting in class when she realized she hadn’t vaped all day. She doesn’t miss it. “I’m not as grumpy or depressed as I was,” she says. Her grades and self-confidence have improved too: “I definitely feel better about myself.”