Published June 18, 2021 · Reviewed by Sergey Litvinov, MD · ~657 words

During recovery, some patients who smoke cigarettes may switch to vaping as an alternative. However, this decision could put their recovery chances at risk. Vaping and recovery from drug or alcohol addiction are not a good mix. But, there are healthier alternatives to vaping that can provide stress relief without compromising healing. Here at Pines Recovery Life Detox, we’re committed to making sure clients have the information they need to make the most successful recovery possible.

Is Nicotine Vaping a Good Replacement for Cigarettes?

Many people with substance use disorder also smoke cigarettes. In fact, because nicotine has addictive properties, it has links to smokers engaging in other addictions. Some smokers attempt to quit by switching from cigarettes to nicotine vaping. They believe that vaping offers a purer form of nicotine delivery that does not contain the additives of cigarettes. However, the negative health effects of vaping are still being studied and being revealed. It’s doubtful vaping is a healthier alternative to cigarette smoking. In all likelihood, vaping instead of smoking cigarettes is simply swapping one unhealthy practice for another.

Plus, nicotine vaping is just as bad as cigarettes due to the active ingredient. Both contain the addictive substance nicotine. Therefore, switching from cigarettes to vaping for recovery does not help in breaking away from addiction. Plus, vaping provides the same physical motions as cigarettes. Instead of learning new, healthier habits to break a cigarette smoking addiction, smokers replace it with a very similar one.

Issues with Nicotine Vaping and Recovery from Addiction

Substance use recovery programs work toward helping patients to get away from their addictions. However, patients who continue with vaping do not help their recovery efforts. In fact, vaping for recovery and relapse of substance use have a strong connection.

The reasons why this link exists are not directly known. However, some believe that nicotine vaping contributes to a craving for stronger stimulants, such as drugs. Plus, for people who vaped while using drugs or alcohol before entering rehab, vaping becomes a psychological and physical cue for substance use. Therefore, vaping and recovery are at odds with each other.

Healthier Alternatives to Vaping for Recovery

Vaping and recovery do not mix well. Patients at rehab centers should work with their treatment team to identify healthier alternatives to smoking and vaping. The treatment team often includes addiction recovery therapists who can provide psychological support when cravings for nicotine are strong. Peer group therapy sessions let others in recovery offer their ideas for choosing alternatives to smoking or vaping.

Aside from these sources of ideas for finding other ways to cope instead of vaping for recovery, there are other stress-relief methods. To ease stress during recovery and after, patients can try any of the following instead of vaping:

• Engaging in exercise
• Doing yoga
• Spending time with non-vaping and non-smoking friends
• Learning a hobby
• Taking a walk
• Meditating
• Volunteering
• Playing sports

Recovery from drug or alcohol addiction also means stepping away from habits that accompanied the addiction. For many people, this means finding alternatives to smoking and vaping to distance themselves from old habits. Doing so can protect them from relapse and the need to go through detox and recovery again. Recovery is an ideal time to make efforts toward improving overall health and habits, including quitting vaping.

Connect with Pines Recovery Life Detox for Help with Addiction Recovery

Patients shouldn’t thwart their recovery with vaping. There are sources for help for addiction recovery and vaping in Florida, starting with connecting with us at Pines Recovery Life Detox. Complete our contact form or phone us at 800.263.3869 to reach out to us. We can help patients detox from drugs or alcohol and connect them with continuing support sources after leaving our facility to keep their recovery efforts moving forward. Getting support for drug or alcohol misuse is close at hand here at Pines Recovery Life Detox. Reach out to us to find out how we can help.