judy Quitting an unhealthy habit like Vaping is easier said than done. Thus, if you have been smoking or vaping for many years now, you may find it extremely challenging to give up any of these vices. But is it impossible? Certainly not.
While the process may be tedious, withdrawing from smoking and vaping will benefit your health in the long run.
Nonetheless, nicotine cessation treatments should be addressed so that they intertwine with other mental health care programs.
Smoking and Vaping Among Individuals with Mental Health Problems
A recent study shows that 25% of adults in the United States suffer from mental health-related illness or substance use disorder. Forty percent of these individuals account for the total number of people who smoke.
Such data do not conform with the decreasing nicotine consumption of the general population, hence, a truly alarming problem that the medical community should address.
Another brewing health issue is the staggering number of e-cigarette or vaping pen users among the younger generation. In 2018, it was officially declared by the Surgeon General of the United States that there has been a vaping “epidemic” in the country.
Smoking and Vaping Among Students
From 2011 to 2015, it was reported that e-cigarette use among middle and high school students climbed to 900%. Later on, the number declined for the first time between 2015 to 2017. Nonetheless, another spike was recorded as a 78% increase was recorded, from 11.7% to 20.8% in 2017 and 2018, respectively.
To give you a clearer picture, over 3.6 million youth in the US, including 1 in 5 high school students and 1 in 20 middle school students, use e-cigarettes or vaping pens.
Why are teens more inclined to use e-cigarettes? Apparently, the “juice” used in many e-cigarettes come in various flavors, making them more appealing to many young people.
However, the chemicals mixed with these e-liquids are not any safer than the traditional nicotine-filled cigarettes. The Food and Drug Administration currently considers banning flavored vapes from helping minimize health risks among teens and adolescents.
Smoking and Vaping Policies and Mental Health Treatment Facilities
In the past, many mental health care facilities have struggled to implement nicotine-free campuses due to many myths and misconceptions about smoking and psychiatric disorders.
One of the most prolific mistakes is that smoking can help decrease most mental health problems. Such error may be detrimental to a patient’s health, especially when addressing nicotine dependence is less of a priority.
In contrast, many studies show that nicotine cessation treatments are more effective when it is systematically laced with mental health care techniques.
For instance, bupropion and nicotine replacement therapy may enhance symptoms of schizophrenia. Moreover, patients on atypical antipsychotic drugs tend to be more responsive to bupropion.
On the other hand, individuals treated for their substance use disorders are 25% more likely to abstain from alcohol and other drugs when they participate in smoking cessation programs.
Final Thoughts
Indeed, abandoning your unhealthy smoking or vaping habits involves a long and winding process. Still, with your mental health also in consideration, you may be able to make long-term changes that will ultimately alter the course of your life.
