Health Highlights

Around one in four individuals aged 18 to 25 are frequent users of e-cigarettes to vape nicotine. This trend raises concerns about the potential for developing nicotine dependence at a young age. Additionally, vaping may expose users to substances that could be harmful. Recent findings suggest that a medication commonly used to help adults quit smoking might also be effective in helping young people stop vaping.

Varenicline, a prescription drug approved by the FDA to treat smoking addiction in adults, works by interfering with nicotine's actions in the brain. It lessens the pleasurable effects of nicotine and helps reduce the urge to use it.

The latest research involved 261 participants between the ages of 16 and 25 who vaped nicotine nearly every day. The study split them into three groups. All participants were referred to a free text-based support program called “This is Quitting,” which provides motivation and tips for quitting vaping. One group received only the referral. The remaining two groups also had weekly sessions with trained counselors specializing in helping youth quit vaping. One of those groups was additionally given varenicline twice daily, while the other received a placebo pill.

After three months, 51% of those on varenicline had successfully quit vaping. In contrast, only 14% of participants who took the placebo had stopped, and just 6% of the referral-only group had quit.

At the six-month mark, 28% of the varenicline group continued to remain vape-free. This compared to only 7% in the placebo group and 4% in those who only used the texting program.

“Vaping is incredibly common among young people,” explains Dr. A. Eden Evins of Massachusetts General Hospital. “Exposure to nicotine early on can increase the risk of addiction to other substances like cocaine in the future.”

Further studies are necessary to determine the best ways to utilize medications like varenicline to support vaping cessation among adolescents and young adults.