You Want to Quit, But How to Begin
This is a great question, and I am certainly no expert, but I will take a shot at answering. I have included links to resources on other websites and videos, which hopefully can help. Another good place to start is here. What I know from my research for my film and from talking to friends who vape is that quitting is a struggle, particularly once you have developed a nicotine addiction. Nicotine is crazy addictive! To be honest I was surprised to learn that it is more addictive than illegal drugs that I assumed were way more addictive like heroin and cocaine. You may not believe you are addicted, but here are some typical warning signs…
You feel anxious when you want to use your vape.
You have tried to quit but failed and went back to vaping.
You think about vaping when you are busy doing something else.
You still vape after getting in trouble or knowing it is bad for your health.
In other words, if you want to quit vaping, you may want to assume that you have some level of addiction already, so you need to make a serious plan for quitting. When adults decide to fight an addiction, they can find a lot of professional help available. But when you are teen hiding your addiction from your parents, you are at a unique disadvantage. I think trying to quit vaping on your own and without the help of your parents is inviting failure. You need every tool at your disposal, and that is unlikely without help. Also many common therapies to quit nicotine are either not approved yet for teens or are only available through a doctor. In some ways, the deck is stacked against you as a teen trying to break an addiction to nicotine.
Ask yourself whether you think your parents will be more disappointed when: (a) they catch you vaping, (b) they find out from someone else, (c) they find out when you end up hospitalized with a respiratory illness or other health problems, or (d) you tell them you messed up and need their help. Of course your parents will be disappointed in each of these scenarios, but only the last one gives you the power to address your addiction on your own terms. By showing your parents that you are willing to admit your mistake and want their help, they can move them past the initial shock so you can work together on a plan of action. Give them a chance to help you.
With your parents’ support and professional resources to help you quit vaping, you can be successful. In all cases, you need a solid plan to quit before you begin and a team of supportive friends and family.