Scottsdale doctor offers tips for quitting vaping

SCOTTSDALE — Quitting vaping could be harder than quitting other addictions.

First, you’re not just giving up nicotine. You’re giving up chemicals, like diacetyl.

“That’s used as a popcorn flavoring that seems to cause ‘popcorn lung,’ a scarring of the tiny airwaves in the lungs,” said Dr. Gagandeep Singh, chief medical officer at Banner Health Hospital in Scottsdale.

Diacetyl, a butter flavoring, is meant for eating, not inhaling. Vapes also include fog machine liquid.

Singh says vapers must work past the lies they were told in order to quit, like “the misconception that vaping was safer and less addictive than other substances.”

Some vape makers once told users their products would reduce nicotine cravings.

“But as vaping became popular and it felt like it was a cleaner, nicer way to use nicotine, the overall nicotine usage rates are going up,” Singh said.

But there’s good news: Singh says the steps to quitting vaping are exactly like quitting other substance addictions.

“Make an inventory of the reasons you want to quit,” he said. “Build on that motivation, and come up with ways in which you can start reducing.”

Nicotine patches work, too, Singh said.

You can also call 1-800-QUIT-NOW, or text the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s service for quitting addiction at 47848.

The CDC reports there were 2,500 hospitalizations related to vaping in the past year nationwide, including Arizona.

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