In a recent article, VICE coined 2022 ‘The Year Of The Vape’ and it’s not hard to see why. After having “dug its claws into the heart of Australian culture” the digital durry has made it into the pockets of one in five young people nationally. You don’t even have to hit the streets on a Friday night to see this cultural phenomenon in action. It’s everywhere, y’all — and that’s not a good thing.
From bus stops and parks to restaurants, homes and offices (most of which are illegal to vape in anyway), I can’t say I’ve gone a damn day without getting a secondhand whiff of this cursed vapour. And god knows how many chemicals I’m inhaling just by being around it.
While these sickly sticks were initially positioned as a favourable alternative to the ol’ ciggy, every day we see more and more evidence that turns this argument to ashes. According to QLD Health, vapes and e-cigarettes are full of toxic chemicals that may cause cancer, damage to your heart or even lung disease. Most vapes also contain nicotine which opens a whole new can of worms when it comes to addiction; impacting your learning ability, mood, attention span and behavioural control.
Now, it’s all well and good to tell you this and TBH, there’s a high chance you’ve probably heard it all before, so instead of flogging the same horse by telling you why you should quit, we spoke to six folks about how they actually did it to give you some tangible inspiration. While they encountered some pretty warped withdrawal stories in the process — there’s a light at the end of the tunnel. The sooner you take the plunge, the easier it’ll be.
Nick, 37
How long did you vape for?
18 months, made the switch after more than a decade of cigarettes.
How long ago did you quit?
June 2022, haven’t touched one since.
Tell us how you found the withdrawal? Was it as bad as you thought it’d be?
It was the worst withdrawals I’ve ever experienced. I felt like one of those cartoon characters with steam coming out of their ears. I felt this constant pressure in my head, like I was going to explode. My personality changed, I was making weird jokes, saying weird things, couldn’t keep track of my thoughts. But that all eased off after about two weeks, then it got MUCH easier. I just can’t do it ever again.
Have you tried to quit unsuccessfully before? If so, did the withdrawals play a part in you eventually going back to it?
I’d tried to quit smoking cigarettes many times. This was the first time I’d tried to quit vaping. The withdrawals were so much worse and so bad that I will never risk getting addicted and having to go through that again.
David, 29
How long did you vape for?
Since March 2021 so exactly two years (yuck).
How long ago did you quit?
It’s been two days, 22 hours and 11 minutes since my last vape at time of writing (I put it on a countdown app). So far so good.
Tell us how you found the withdrawal? Was it as bad as you thought it’d be?
This time around withdrawals have been surprisingly more chill than the other times I’ve tried to quit. It might be a mental thing because this time I really am ready to quit. Brain fog was most intense on day two, but has subsided a bit. My main withdrawal symptom is a sore throat — I’ve heard that’s pretty common when you try to quit nicotine, the ol’ smoker’s flu. It’s a good thing though, apparently, it’s your body starting the long process of getting rid of the nastiness vaping and smoking does to your insides. Apart from that, it’s the mental game of trying to ignore the various triggers that would usually make you vape (phone calls, morning coffee, stressful emails, basically everything).
Have you tried to quit before?
Yes, more times than I can count. Sometimes it has lasted for weeks but there’s always something that drags you back in. I’ve started again because I had a big event coming up like a big house party or someone’s birthday where I knew I’d end up craving it. And I’d rather have my own vape than spend the whole night annoying people by scabbing theirs. There have been other times when work has been intense and I was just like “I’d love to quit, but I can’t afford the brain fog that comes with it right now.” And so I’d put it off literally just to avoid withdrawals, which is pretty messed up.
What motivated you to quit and how did you feel after doing it?
Every time I have decided to quit it’s been because I was sick of feeling that horrible feeling in my throat. It’s hard to describe to non-vapers but it feels like your throat is inflamed, it’s sore, and it feels like it’s almost been frozen? Usually, after a big night, I’ll wake up vowing to never feel that way again. I also love to run, and running when I’ve been vaping a lot is horrible. In fact, running when I’ve been vaping even a little bit feels yuck.
What would you say to people who are just getting started on their quitting journey?
I’ve mentioned some of the less appealing aspects that come from withdrawals already, but the benefits really outweigh the initial difficulties. Even after one day, I feel myself breathing so much better. Motivation to run, to go to the gym, to just generally move is so much higher when I’m not vaping. Plus, my heart feels better — I forgot to mention earlier that vaping for days at a time gives me heart palpitations which is really messed up if you think about it for more than a second. It’s a cringe habit. Literally everyone is better off never vaping again. Plus you look stupid when you do it.
Tara, 32
How long did you vape for?
Two and a half years but a smoker for 12 years before that.
How long ago did you quit?
I’m currently one month vape free.
Tell us how you found the withdrawal? Was it as bad as you thought it’d be?
My current attempt at quitting is nowhere near as bad as my past attempts. I think it’s because I finally feel ready to quit, whereas in the past I wasn’t taking it 100% seriously. My mood has been quite stable but it did impact my sleep for the first couple of weeks. I felt super tired during the day but then fully awake at night. I also had really bad headaches each afternoon which sucked. To combat the cravings, I’ve been eating carrots with hummus and drinking out of a water bottle with a sippy straw (I pretend it’s a vape lol).
Have you tried to quit before?
So many unsuccessful attempts. Every time I tried to quit I turned into a horrendous, grumpy mole. Vaping was all I could think about. It got so unbearable, I just caved and bought a vape. Nicotine is honestly the devil and until you cut it from your life, you don’t realise the massive, gross hold it has over you.
What motivated you to quit and how did you feel after doing it?
I smoked and vaped my way through my teens and my twenties, thinking I was invincible. Now in my thirties, my health (and my bank account) has become a massive priority for me. I think this just naturally happens as you get ~*OLdeR & wiSeR*~. I feel so good (and proud) about my quitting journey. I’m not constantly relying on/grabbing for my vape, and my lungs no longer feel like they’re full of water. I’ve also saved a lot of cash.
What would you say to people who are just getting started on their quitting journey?
Don’t give up! The first two weeks will test you massively, but keep going and remember why you’re doing it. Your lungs and bank account will thank you for it later.
Kithers, 25
How long did you vape for?
Two years.
How long ago did you quit?
Two years ago, permanently.
Tell us how you found the withdrawal? Was it as bad as you thought it’d be?
To be honest, no. I didn’t experience many withdrawal symptoms. I just had way too many experiences smoking/vaping that made me feel physically ill, which made the decision to give it up easier.
Elly, 24
How long did you vape for?
Started with juuling then moved to vaping casually for three years.
How long ago did you quit?
April 2022. I have vaped once since.
Tell us how you found the withdrawal? Was it as bad as you thought it’d be?
Withdrawal was mixed in with my COVID. But, admittedly I didn’t really get affected that much as I was only doing it on the weekends. Coughing blood when I had COVID was really the wake-up call I needed. I have vaped once since whilst partying and regretted it massively afterwards.
Sarah, 23
How long did you vape for?
Two years.
How long ago did you quit?
I’ve tried to quit countless times. Sometimes I make it a couple of days, but the longest has been two weeks.
Tell us how you found the withdrawal? Was it as bad as you thought it’d be?
The withdrawal starts with missing the habit, maybe a vape is to me what an emotional support water bottle is to others. But then the headaches kick in, followed by restlessness, irritability, hunger and insomnia. Next thing I know I’m googling for convenience stores nearby that I think would sell vapes (a somewhat talent I have mastered).
Feeling inspired to take the leap yourself? QLD Health has a bunch of resources on kicking the cursed digi durry out of your life for good including free QuitHQ resources to help hold you accountable, as well as Quitline — a free counselling service — to help you on your quit journey. You can also speak to your GP or pharmacist.