Vapers Swap E-cigarettes for Unexpected Risky Alternatives

WHO:

Fox News - Trent Carter, a board-certified nurse practitioner and CEO of Renew Health, a behavioral and mental health practice based in New Mexico, discusses vaping and smoking habits.

WHAT:

Fox News - Nearly 30% of adults who quit vaping end up returning to traditional combustible cigarettes.

Fox News - E-cigarettes can be highly addictive due to the way they deliver nicotine.

Fox News - High-potency vapes can lead to increased physical tolerance and severe withdrawal symptoms during quit attempts.

Fox News - Addiction specialists recommend medically supervised strategies that combine behavioral therapy with gradual nicotine reduction.

WHERE:

Fox News - Renew Health is based in New Mexico.

WHY:

Fox News - The shift from vapes back to cigarettes may be driven by nicotine dependence and the challenges of withdrawal.

Fox News - Continuous indoor vaping tends to boost daily nicotine intake, reinforcing the hand-to-mouth habit.

Fox News - Early public messaging framed e-cigarettes as a healthier alternative to smoking, leading to a false sense of security about quitting.

HOW:

Fox News - Vaping can be done throughout the day and often indoors, making it easier to consume nicotine compared to traditional cigarettes.

Fox News - Standard quitting aids, like over-the-counter patches or nicotine gum, may feel inadequate for users seeking immediate relief from high-volume nicotine intake.

(UPDATED September 24, 2026 22:03 UTC)

Trent Carter, a board-certified nurse practitioner and CEO of Renew Health in New Mexico, recently discussed the challenges of quitting vaping on Fox News, highlighting that nearly 30% of adults who stop vaping end up returning to traditional cigarettes. He explained that e-cigarettes can be highly addictive, with high-potency vapes leading to increased tolerance and severe withdrawal symptoms, making it difficult for users to quit without proper support. Addiction specialists recommend medically supervised strategies that combine behavioral therapy with gradual nicotine reduction, as standard quitting aids may not provide the immediate relief needed for those accustomed to high nicotine intake.