When you’re focused on regaining control over your life by breaking free from chemical dependence, abstinence is usually the preferred course. However, there’s another habit that can undermine the recovery process—smoking and vaping. Despite the perception that a few puffs now and then may offer a less harmful alternative to drugs or alcohol, the reality is that nicotine and other chemicals in tobacco and vape products also interfere with your brain’s recovery, exacerbate cravings, and contribute to long-term health issues.
This Is Your Brain on Nicotine
Nicotine, the primary addictive substance in tobacco, is a powerful stimulant that affects the brain’s reward system. When nicotine is consumed, it quickly enters the bloodstream and crosses the blood-brain barrier, stimulating a quick release of dopamine—a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) indicates this “hit” of dopamine is what makes smoking so addictive, as people begin to crave the substance to experience the pleasurable feelings it induces.
In the initial stages of managing alcohol use disorder (AUD) or substance use disorder (SUD), your brain is in a delicate state of repair. Chronic substance use—whether alcohol, opioids, or other drugs—causes changes to the mesolimbic reward system. The goal of detoxification and early recovery is to help your brain heal and regain its ability to regulate emotions, impulses, and rewards healthfully.
However, if someone continues to use nicotine during recovery, the brain is exposed to another addictive substance that further disrupts this healing process. Research demonstrates that nicotine affects how it can repair itself from the damage caused by substance use by interfering with neuroplasticity—the ability to reorganize and form new neural connections.
In other words, continuing to smoke or vape delays your brain’s recovery process, making it harder to manage cravings and avoid relapse.
Vaping and Its Chemical Hazards
This process is marketed as a safer alternative to smoking, but the reality is far more complicated. While e-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco, they still deliver nicotine, which has the same addictive effects on the brain as smoking traditional cigarettes, impairing cognitive function and reinforcing addictive behavior patterns.
Additionally, the vapor produced by these devices contains numerous harmful chemicals. The American Lung Association states that many vape liquids are mixed with substances such as formaldehyde, acrolein, diacetyl, and acetaldehyde—chemicals known to cause lung irritation, respiratory issues, and other serious health problems.
How Smoking and Vaping Affect Physical and Mental Health
Choosing a better lifestyle through recovery often involves following a whole foods diet, exercising more, getting better sleep, and using different techniques to manage stress. Smoking and vaping compromise those efforts in many ways.
- Increased anxiety and depression. While nicotine may initially provide temporary relief from stress and anxiety by releasing that quick hit of dopamine, the effects are short-lived. Even moderate withdrawal can make anxiety and depression worse in the long run. Additionally, the NIDA states that “people who smoke with a mental health disorder tend to smoke more…than those in the general population,” putting them more at risk for additional health complications.
- “Popcorn lung” and other ailments. We’re all familiar with the many physical hazards associated with smoking. The habit is linked to a range of chronic diseases, including heart disease, lung cancer, respiratory illness, and stroke. Even though vaping may seem like a safer option, research is increasingly showing that e-cigarettes are not without risk. The Cleveland Clinic reports that, in addition to the conditions above, vaping chemicals can cause bronchiolitis obliterans or “popcorn lung,” for which there is no cure and extensive complications.
For someone in recovery for AUD or SUD, prioritizing long-term health is a key element of the healing process. Continuing to smoke or vape not only impedes the physical healing process from addiction but also puts individuals at risk for serious health conditions that make recovery more difficult and shorten life expectancy.
Tips To Help You Quit
If you’re placing a priority on wellness, the benefits of quitting smoking or vaping far outweigh the temporary relief that these substances may offer. Choosing to quit not only supports the recovery process but also contributes to your overall well-being.
But without a doubt, it can be challenging to stop this habit when you’re dealing with AUD and SUD. Here are resources that might help.
- The American Lung Association offers this step-by-step guide on how to quit.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provide insights from former smokers and additional resources.
- The American Cancer Society provides answers to common questions about quitting smoking.
Ultimately, deciding to quit smoking or vaping is an essential part of maintaining sobriety, regaining mental clarity, and building a healthier future.
Trust Ivory Plains To Guide You Toward Better Health
At our addiction rehabilitation program in Adair, Iowa, you’ll gain valuable education and guidance from board-certified professionals focused on helping you choose a life free of chemical dependency. Talk to a member of our admission team today to learn more.
