Vaping is not often at the top of the list when people think of addiction, but vaping is just as addictive as cigarettes or other forms of tobacco. Just as with cigarettes, vaping addiction can be extremely difficult to conquer, sometimes taking weeks or even months. Vaping also has a multitude of negative health effects, particularly on the lungs. Vaping addiction treatment works by getting to the root cause of the addiction, breaking habits, and reducing dependence on nicotine. Starting treatment as soon as possible will give the patient the best chance at beating the addiction and having successful lung recovery after vaping.
Types of Treatment for Vaping Addiction
A great way to deal with a vaping addiction is an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP). An IOP uses a wide range of treatments to treat substance use disorders and any co-occurring mental health disorders, such as marijuana use disorder or anxiety. These treatments can include:
- Medication treatments
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Motivational enhancement therapy (MET)
- Motivational interviewing (MI)
- Dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT)
- Rational emotive behavior therapy (REBT)
- Trauma therapies
- Psychotherapy
- Family therapy
- Holistic therapy, mindfulness and well-being
- Experiential therapies
There is no guaranteed combination of these treatments that will work for everyone. When it comes to addiction treatment, it’s all about finding what works for each individual patient. An individualized approach, that takes into account the patient’s personality and needs, gives the best chance of overcoming the addiction.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Teen Vaping
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be very useful when it comes to treating teens for vape addiction. CBT is what most people think of when they think of therapy. It is a form of one-on-one talk therapy, where the therapist uses a question-and-answer format to help a patient take a close look at their thoughts and actions. With teens, this can help them understand why they are vaping and what is driving their addiction. Whether it’s anxiety, depression, or another problem, CBT can uncover what is driving the teen to vape, which can be instrumental in helping them break their addiction. In IOP at New Harbor, our team utilizes CBT skills in group therapy. CBT usually takes place over multiple sessions, and can be combined with other forms of therapy or medication for better results.
Group Therapy for Teen Vaping
Group therapy occurs when a therapist meets with multiple patients at the same time. Usually, the patients are all dealing with the same problems, allowing them to learn from and relate to one another. This is especially helpful for teens, who often have trouble opening up to adults. When surrounded by their peers, teens are much more likely to be honest about their feelings, which makes having breakthroughs much more likely than in independent therapy.
There are many different types of group therapy. Most people think of support groups, where participants with similar struggles share their experiences and the problems they are facing. These can be very helpful to teens facing addiction but they are not the only option. Other types of group therapy that can be helpful are:
- Cognitive behavioral groups, which focus on identifying and changing inaccurate thinking patterns, behaviors, or emotional responses.
- Interpersonal groups, which focus on relationships between people. These groups look at the support each member has and how their interpersonal relationships affect their mental health.
- Psychoeducational groups, which focus on educating participants regarding their diagnoses and how they can cope with them. These groups often base their techniques on cognitive behavior therapy.
All of these types of group therapies have their own strengths, and each can be helpful to a teen grappling with vape addiction.
Family Therapy for Teen Vaping
Teens going through vape addiction oftentimes feel alienated from their families, and their families often have a hard time understanding what their teen is going through. Having a family member addicted to vaping can easily lead to a breakdown in the family dynamic. This is where family therapy comes in. Family therapy is when a therapist works with the entire family. Through this type of counseling, the teen learns that their family still loves and supports them, and that they are committed to helping the teen get healthy. The rest of the family learns exactly what the teen is going through and why. They also learn how to best support their teen during their battle with addiction. Family therapy can be a powerful tool that not only helps the teen with their mental health, but also their entire family.
Finding the Best Treatment for Vaping Addiction
There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to vaping addiction. Every individual is going to have different needs and feelings, which means every individual is going to have a different treatment plan that works best for them. It is important to find a reputable facility that offers a wide range of treatment programs and has experience treating a wide range of diagnoses. This will ensure the patient gets the treatment that works for them and will give them the best chance at beating their addiction to vaping.