Quitting vaping in 2024: Top tips and resources

2024 could be the year for you or someone you care about to quit vaping. According to a 2023 Truth Initiative survey, 67% of 15-to-24-year-old e-cigarette users surveyed said they were considering quitting as a New Year’s resolution.

There are many reasons people want to quit vaping, including physical or mental health concerns, financial cost, freedom from addiction, and influence from friends, family, and others. In fact, Truth Initiative researchers have analyzed reasons for quitting cited by young people enrolled in a free and anonymous quit vaping program from Truth Initiative, and found that concerns about health and mental health, as well as social influence, are among the top reasons for quitting.

“I want to feel like I can be happy without nicotine, I have also noticed increased anxiety since I started vaping,” wrote one participant in the digital quitting program This is Quitting, now part of EX Program. Another wrote, “I want to be more motivated and positive.”

Nicotine addiction can negatively impact mental health, and research shows that in the long term, quitting nicotine can improve mental health, with 90% of young people who quit vaping reporting feeling less stressed, anxious, or depressed, according to a Truth Initiative survey.

Whatever reasons may be motivating you or someone you care about to quit, here are some top tips and resources.

Tips to quit vaping:

• Why the “cold turkey” method of quitting vaping or smoking doesn’t work – and what does
• How quitting nicotine can improve mental health
• How to support someone on their quit-vaping journey
• Young ex-vapers share their experience and advice on quitting vaping
• 3 important things to know about quitting nicotine during times of stress
• Quitting vaping? Here are 5 tips for handling nicotine withdrawal
• Can oral nicotine pouches like Zyn help people quit vaping nicotine?

Digital quitting program

A first-of-its-kind, free and anonymous text messaging program is designed to help young people quit vaping and has become a resource for over 750,000 young people.

The program incorporates messages from others of the same age group who have attempted to or successfully quit vaping. A randomized clinical trial found that young adults aged 18-24 who used the program had nearly 40% higher odds of quitting compared to a control group. A second clinical trial proved that the program is not only successful in helping young people quit vaping, but also in ensuring that they don’t later use combustible tobacco products in place of e-cigarettes.

Teens and young adults can text “DITCHVAPE” to 88709 and get immediate help.

By texting DITCHVAPE to 88709, you consent to recurring messages from Truth Initiative to help you quit vaping, and agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy. Text STOP to opt-out. Text HELP for info. Msg & Data Rates May Apply. 

Parents of young people who vape can also get support and resources to help their teen or young adult child quit vaping through EX, a free, digital quit-tobacco plan and online community of thousands of current and former tobacco users developed by Truth Initiative in collaboration with Mayo Clinic. It has helped more than 910,000 people develop the skills and confidence to successfully quit. Research has shown that following the EX quit plan quadruples a tobacco user’s chance of quitting. Register for free at BecomeAnEX.org.

This article was originally published on 1/25/24