Vaping’s Mental Health Link: Quitting’s Hidden Challenge

Vaping and Mental Health: A Complex Relationship

Vaping is a growing concern, with its regulation, impact on public health, and effects on young people being widely discussed. As the Australian government introduces reforms to limit the availability of vapes to pharmacies, many individuals may be considering quitting. However, the link between vaping and mental health can make quitting even more challenging, particularly for teenagers.

How are Mental Health and Vaping Linked?

An estimated 4.3 million Australians reported a mental health problem in the past 12 months. Mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, often begin in adolescence and early adulthood. Research has established a link between vaping and mental health, with people who vape frequently being twice as likely to have a depression diagnosis compared to those who have never vaped.

Australia’s National Drug Strategy Household Survey also shows that individuals with more mental distress related to anxiety and depression are four times as likely to have vaped than those with low distress. For those already struggling with mental health issues, vaping has been linked to worse depression symptoms and physical health.

Self-Medicating with Vapes?

Some individuals may turn to nicotine-containing vapes as a means to manage their mental health or stress. In an Australian survey, 61% of young adults who vaped believed it helped them calm down when tense or stressed, while 57% thought it cheered them up when in a bad mood. However, rather than addressing these symptoms, vaping can increase them.

A study in the United States found that vaping dependence was linked to increased symptoms of depression. We also know that quitting can improve mental health outcomes.

Does Mental Health Affect Quitting?

The evidence related to mental health outcomes from vaping is still in its early stages. Research suggests that having a mental health condition can increase the odds of relapsing after trying to quit vaping. Stigma also plays a role in both experiences of mental health and addiction, which may make asking for help to quit even more challenging.

What Works to Quit?

We have limited evidence and guidance for the best way to support individuals who vape to quit, generally. There’s even less evidence on how to support individuals with mental health conditions to quit. Quit vaping programs for individuals with mental health conditions do exist, and receiving mental health support can boost the odds of success in quitting.

Experts recommend that quit plans consider someone’s severity of mental illness, the impact of nicotine use and withdrawal, and whether medications for their mental illness interact with those used to help them quit vaping. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, a type of psychological therapy that looks at how thoughts, behaviors, and emotions are connected, can be an effective approach to support individuals to quit smoking and its principles can be combined with quit medications to help individuals quit vaping.

Psychologists and counselors can also use motivational interviewing to highlight discrepancies between someone’s actions and values. For instance, this might be used to highlight the discrepancy between someone who wants to be healthy for their family (their value) but who vapes regularly (their action). This, combined with education, may motivate individuals to act and see a future without vaping.

Resources

If you or someone you know wants to quit vaping, whether or not there are mental health concerns, resources include:

• Quitline: A service that can help individuals deliver quit support.
• Cognitive-behavioral therapy: A type of psychological therapy that can help individuals quit smoking and its principles can be combined with quit medications to help individuals quit vaping.
• Motivational interviewing: A technique used by psychologists and counselors to highlight discrepancies between someone’s actions and values.
• Resources from organizations such as MindGardens: An organization that provides resources and support for individuals with mental health conditions.

Conclusion

The link between vaping and mental health is complex, and quitting can be even more challenging for individuals with mental health conditions. It’s essential to consider the severity of mental illness, the impact of nicotine use and withdrawal, and whether medications for mental illness interact with those used to help individuals quit vaping. With the right support and resources, individuals can overcome the challenges of quitting vaping and improve their mental health outcomes.

FAQs

Q: What is the link between vaping and mental health?
A: Research has established a link between vaping and mental health, with people who vape frequently being twice as likely to have a depression diagnosis compared to those who have never vaped.

Q: Can vaping be used as a means to manage mental health or stress?
A: Some individuals may turn to nicotine-containing vapes as a means to manage their mental health or stress. However, rather than addressing these symptoms, vaping can increase them.

Q: Does having a mental health condition affect quitting?
A: Yes, having a mental health condition can increase the odds of relapsing after trying to quit vaping. Stigma also plays a role in both experiences of mental health and addiction, which may make asking for help to quit even more challenging.

Q: What resources are available to help individuals quit vaping?
A: Resources include Quitline, cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and resources from organizations such as MindGardens.