Vacating the vape: everything to know if you're considering dropping the habit

Sometimes a harmless act on a night out of borrowing a mate’s watermelon flavoured vape can turn into a habit, and then suddenly you're buying e-liquids from the local corner shop, and offering your own reusable vape to friends. A drunk habit can then quickly transform into an addiction, something to lean on, like a childhood teddy or a blanket that smells like home. However, this is not harmless, vaping kills, and despite rumours of it being better than smoking cigarettes, many vapes being sold now contain the same amount of nicotine in one pod as in an average pack of 20 cigarettes. So, struggling to find a New Year’s resolution, here’s an idea- quit vaping!

Not only will quitting vaping reduce the risks of a shorter lifespan, but it will also mean that you save money, although cheaper than cigarettes, vaping is still a habit that is pricy in the long run- especially if you’re a student! The reality is you are not the target audience for vaping, and it is not too late to reverse this unhealthy habit. Vapes were made with the aim to help adult smokers reduce their smoking habit, but their affordability and the wide variety of flavours mean that they have become increasingly popular, with in the UK a recorded 4.5 million regular vapers and approximately 3,000 specialist vape stores. The candy stores found in the 20^th century are now being replaced by colourful vape shops, and I for one am sad about it.

Nicotine is a highly addictive and toxic drug that can harm brain development, which means that your frontal lobe may be underdeveloped when it stops evolving at 25. Additionally, starting vaping as an adolescent increases the chances of future addictions to other drugs, which will cause further mental and bodily harm. Vaping, like smoking, can lead to popcorn lungs, medically known as Bronchiolitis Obliterans, which damages the small airways in the lungs, as well as cancers. 

Quitting is easier said than done, as with a lot of addictions, the process can take a long time and be mentally draining. Try to replace vaping with other activities that will benefit you, such as trying a new sport or starting a craft. When your hand reaches for the vape, think to grab your trainers and go for a run, or grab a pen and paper and start journaling. Habits become habits through repetition. Just as you become accustomed to the constant, comforting presence of the vape, you will soon develop a routine of activities that will enhance your life rather than potentially shorten it.

2026 will be the year of breaking bad habits and getting into a routine that will, in the long run, benefit your mind and body. Vacating the vapes in 2026- sounds like a good resolution to me.