Nicotine is addictive. So if you vape regularly, quitting is hard. And it’s getting even harder because today's e-cigarettes tend to have more nicotine. That's why the American Academy of Pediatrics now recommends considering nicotine replacement therapy, or NRT, to help young people who have a moderate to severe dependence on nicotine.
Moderate to severe dependence is based on factors like how often you smoke or vape, how hard it is not to, and if you have cravings when you stop. Also, if you need to use more nicotine to get the same effects or are having negative consequence from use or withdrawal symptoms. NRT manages withdrawal and cravings by offering a controlled amount of nicotine that is slowly reduced over time.
It's effective and safer than cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and other tobacco products because it delivers nicotine without the toxic chemicals and carcinogens. The risk of getting too much nicotine is low because it's released slowly. Based on your level of nicotine use and other factors, your medical provider will work with you to determine if NRT is a good fit and establish a program that's right for you. You may wear a long-acting nicotine patch to manage cravings throughout the day, carry shorter-acting gum or lozenges to manage cravings as they appear, or use a combination of both.
It's important to let your provider know how you're feeling, so together you can adjust the level of nicotine to comfortably control cravings while making progress toward your goal of quitting. NRT works well in combinationwith programs that address the behavioral aspect of smoking or vaping, like those that offer you 24/7 support through personalized guidance over text messages.
NRT has helped some people quit in 3 to 6 months. For others, it may take longer. Remember, setbacks are part of the journey. Every day, week, or month you go without vaping is progress toward your goal.
And remember, you're not alone.
NRT has worked
for many people just like you.
References
American Academy of Pediatrics. (2024, May 7). Addressing pediatric tobacco and nicotine use: Considerations for clinicians.
Chaiton, M., Diemert, L., Cohen, J. E., Bondy, S. J., Selby, P., Philipneri, A., & Schwartz, R. (2016). Estimating the number of quit attempts it takes to quit smoking successfully in a longitudinal cohort of smokers. BMJ open, 6(6), e011045.
Cinciripini, P. M., Minnix, J. A., Robinson, J. D., Kypriotakis, G., Cui, Y., Blalock, J. A., Lam, C. Y., & Wetter, D. W. (2023). The effects of scheduled smoking reduction and precessation nicotine replacement therapy on smoking cessation: Randomized controlled trial with compliance. JMIR Formative Research, 7, e39487.
Fanshawe, T. R., Halliwell, W., Lindson, N., Aveyard, P., Livingstone-Banks, J., & Hartmann-Boyce, J. (2017). Tobacco cessation interventions for young people. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 11(11), CD003289.
Ford, C. L., & Zlabek, J. A. (2005). Nicotine replacement therapy and cardiovascular disease. Mayo Clinic proceedings, 80(5), 652–656.
Hsia, S. L., Myers, M. G., & Chen, T. C. (2017). Combination nicotine replacement therapy: Strategies for initiation and tapering. Preventive Medicine, 97, 45–49.
Morean, M. E., Rajeshkumar, L., & Krishnan-Sarin, S. (2024). Development and psychometric evaluation of a novel measure of nicotine e-cigarette withdrawal for use with adolescents and young adults. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 26(12), 1656–1665.
Myung, S. K., & Park, J. Y. (2019). Efficacy of pharmacotherapy for smoking cessation in adolescent smokers: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 21(11), 1473–1479.
Silva, A. P., Scholz, J., Abe, T. O., Pinheiro, G. G., Gaya, P. V., Pereira, A. C., & Santos, P. C. (2016). Influence of smoking cessation drugs on blood pressure and heart rate in patients with cardiovascular disease or high risk score: Real life setting. BMC Cardiovascular Disorders, 16, 2.
Silver, B., Ripley-Moffitt, C., Greyber, J., & Goldstein, A. O. (2016). Successful use of nicotine replacement therapy to quit e-cigarettes: Lack of treatment protocol highlights need for guidelines. Clinical Case Reports, 4(4), 409–411.
Description of Imagery
Title: Escape the Vape
A youth appears on screen. Thought bubbles with vapes inside surround the youth, who is then surrounded by clouds of smoke. The smoke is displaced by nicotine replacement therapy (NRT).
Multiple images of the youth vaping appear, and the youth expresses struggle and frustration. A circular nicotine meter shows nicotine levels up and down. Ns representing nicotine move slowly into the youth’s body. Cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and chewing tobacco appear with warning signs.
Ns representing nicotine move slowly into the youth’s body. A provider appears with a nicotine patch, gum, and lozenge. The youth’s face expresses various feelings: restlessness, depression, nausea, anxiety, concentration trouble, normal. A second youth holds a phone with text messages.
Three other young people stand as a calendar flips through the months. A sign for the road to ditch vape appears with the sun on the horizon. The sun becomes a waste basket in which the three young people discard vapes.