Supporting Vaping Cessation: Strategies for Those Quitting Nicotine Vapes

As several countries, including New Zealand, promote vaping (the use of e-cigarettes) as a tool to help individuals quit smoking tobacco, there's an increasing number of people trying to stop vaping nicotine now. Nicotine vapes can be addictive, and while they've assisted many in quitting cigarettes, others—including those who never smoked—are now seeking ways to quit vaping itself.

Recent surveys of over 1,000 nicotine vapers in Aotearoa New Zealand reveal that many face challenges similar to those encountered in traditional smoking cessation. Around 718 respondents had already quit vaping, while 401 still vaped, with some never having smoked tobacco. Higher dependence was associated with longer vaping duration and higher nicotine concentrations.

Common reasons for quitting include health concerns, the desire to cut dependence, and vaping costs. These motivations resemble those of cigarette quitters, emphasizing that many vapers aim to free themselves from nicotine addiction regardless of their initial reasons.

People employ various cessation strategies such as abrupt quitting ('cold turkey'), gradually reducing nicotine intake with patches, gums, or lozenges, and seeking support from family and friends. These methods mirror smoking cessation techniques. Despite some successfully quitting without difficulty, many others report stress, withdrawal symptoms, and social triggers—like being around others who vape—as relapse factors. These challenges are consistent across demographic groups and regardless of their initial reasons for vaping.

The study suggests existing smoking cessation tools—behavioral support, stress management, and tapering schedules—could be adapted to support vaping cessation more effectively. Special attention may be needed for younger populations or non-smokers who start vaping without prior tobacco use.

Vaping should continue to be offered as a harm reduction tool for current smokers, ideally as a short-term step-down process over 3–12 months to prevent relapse to smoking. However, given the rise in vaping among never-smokers, tailored support for quitting vaping is increasingly vital. The development of targeted cessation programs and ongoing clinical trials aim to address this challenge.

In summary, combining behavioral strategies, medical support, and social encouragement can improve success rates in quitting vaping. Recognizing the addictive nature of nicotine and the social triggers involved is crucial to designing effective cessation interventions for this growing demographic.

source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-aid-people-vaping-nicotine-strategies.html