The findings are in line with “other research showing that there is a significant risk of nicotine dependence symptoms among teens who use e-cigarettes,” said Adam Leventhal, director of the University of Southern California Institute for Addiction Science. who was not involved in the study.
The study “also highlights the urgent need for treatments that can help youth who are trying to quit,” said research co-author Jennifer Dahne, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Medical University of the South. -Karolina.
The new study is “the clearest sign that once (children) cling, they realize what’s going on with them,” said Matthew Myers, chairman of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Children, who was not involved in the study.
“The lack of regulation has meant that the e-cigarette sector is under the influence of highly flavored products that appeal to children (and) deliver nicotine which quickly leads to intense addiction.”
Addiction refers to a person’s loss of control over substance use and is associated with changes in the ‘reward center of your brain’, said Dr Sharon Levy, director of the Adult Use and Addiction Program at Boston Children’s Hospital and an associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School. Levy was not involved in the investigation.
The developing brain of a teen as an adolescent is more sensitive to these changes than adult brains to adults. “When these changes occur,” Levy explained, “the rational decision-making part of the brain loses to the more instinctive parts and people find themselves using nicotine, even if they really want to stop.”
Know why you quit
Think about what you really mean and how vaping gets in the way of those things. Does vaping affect your feelings, money or relationships with people who are important to you?
Answering these questions can help you see how vaping affects your life, perhaps in ways you did not realize. Keep a list of the reasons you want to shut down on your phone and read it if you feel the urge to vape.
Bet on an end date
Choose the day for nothing stressful, like an exam. Set a warning on your phone for the day.
Make your quit plan
Know what to expect
Knowing the potential challenges can help you stick to your plan.
“Nicotine is a stimulant and a lot of teens who use it feel like the ‘buzz’ they get out of it,” Levy said. “But over time, most people find that the buzz is harder and harder (to achieve) as you develop tolerance and your body begins to meet nicotine.”
Withdrawals can make quit uncomfortable and especially for the first week or two. If you experience symptoms and cravings, talk to your doctor about medications that may help. “Keep at it because the symptoms of withdrawal recur over time and desires become less and less intense over time,” Levy said in an email.
Maybe your vape with friends and vaping is part of how your group spends time. Since hanging around them while holding you back can be challenging, you may want to see other people for a while. Some people find that they can eventually spend time with friends who are arming without being triggered to pursue the matter, Levy said.
- Longskea
- Dizziness, vomiting or seizures
- Difficulty concentrating and learning
- Symptoms of depression
- Increased risk of using cigarettes, marijuana and other drugs
- Disabled or abnormal brain development
“Being addicted to tobacco products means adolescents do not have complete control over their use,” said research co-author Tracy Smith, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of South Carolina Medical School. “If they can stop, they’ll get that control back.”
Identify triggers, seek social support and have some self-esteem
Triggers – certain people, situations or feelings – can lead you to act in ways that can be bad for your health.
The study also found that 57% of adolescents currently on vaporizing nicotine had depressive symptoms in the past year, and 61% had anxiety symptoms, Dahne said.
As you escape to reduce problems, psychological treatment and healthy activities, such as walking or listening to music, can help manage your stress and reduce your gap. You may also find a substitute behavior, such as chewing gum or calling a friend.
Doing this on your own can be difficult, Levy added, so ask for support from your doctor, family and friends. Be specific about what you need – maybe they can keep you distracted so you don’t vape. Others can help keep you accountable while you try to change, Levy said.
And do not be too hard on yourself when you slip, which can happen several times. “Recognize that relapse is normal when you try to change some behavior, including stopping vaping,” Dahne said. “It’s important to learn from what worked and what didn’t work in past attempts and stop trying again.”
Imagine your vape-free self
If vaping is something you do regularly, you can imagine your life without it being difficult. Those of you who feel strange at first will eventually become your new normal.
Think of yourself as someone who is not wrong, can separate you from weapons and give you the confidence to move forward. Write a list of all the great things about yourself that do not include vaping – vaping does not define who you are.
Imagine the future, who You want. How does that person compare to who you are now? How does vaping stand in the way? All of these steps can help you bridge this gap.
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