A psychiatrist has offered his best advice for those looking to quit vaping.
Vaping is often viewed as an alternative to smoking, providing the same nicotine hit without the tobacco. While nicotine is the addictive component in cigarettes, much of the damage from smoking arises from the thousands of other chemicals present in tobacco, many of which are toxic.
As such, the NHS says that vapes can be a good starting point for those wishing to quit smoking, as they’re considered ‘less harmful’ than traditional cigarettes. A vape or e-cigarette is a device that enables users to inhale nicotine in vapour form, rather than smoke, and does not produce tar or carbon monoxide.
However, for most people, vaping is a stepping stone to quitting nicotine altogether. If you’re ready to make the leap, Dr Daniel Amen recently shared his top tips on social media for those wanting to overcome their addiction and stop vaping.
“If you’re vaping and you wanna stop,” Dr Amen began his video, where he divulged his best advice on quitting, which he regularly shares with his patients.
“So, one, you have to know it’s a problem,” he clarified, before encouraging people to examine their vaping habits and take note of how frequently they vape.
“Two, just start noticing how often you’re doing it, like count,” he suggested. “And if you want a soft withdrawal, just decrease it by like five per cent every day. It could be super simple.”
Dr Amen went on to recommend a supplement which is not approved for use in the UK to help kick the habit. However, other options you can use to stop vaping include nicotine replacement products such as patches or gum.
The US’ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also recommends making a quit plan and talking to a therapist or relying on other support systems, such as friends and family or support groups, to help manage your addiction.
You can also speak to your GP if you need advice about quitting smoking or vaping.