Vaping has enjoyed a phenomenal increase in the United States, especially among the youth. In 2018, over 3 million of the US youth population were vaping. Vaping is seen as a more convenient option than traditional tobacco cigarettes because many vaping devices are refillable, easy to use, and easier to conceal.
With more and more people getting hooked on vaping, some people are wondering if vaping can make you high. Does vaping get you high? The answer to this question will depend on the substance inside the vaping device.
What’s in your vape?
Many people have the belief that vaping is a healthier alternative compared to tobacco cigarettes. What many people do not realize is that most vape devices, including the popular JUUL, contain nicotine. If you are vaping because you want to quit nicotine in tobacco, the bad news is that you’re still taking in nicotine if you vape.
If you are vaping JUUL or vape devices containing nicotine, you could get an instant buzz or rush from it. That’s because nicotine is a mild stimulant like coffee. It could make you more focused and alert but for other people, it could have a calming or sedating effect. This nicotine rush from vaping is similar to what you’ll get when smoking tobacco cigarettes. It is not strong enough to get you high, meaning give you psychoactive effects. However, nicotine is known to be very addictive. Vaping nicotine substances can easily develop into a regular habit and could lead to addiction.
What is more alarming is that vape devices are being used to smoke more potent drugs. Some vape users start with vaping nicotine and then when their tolerance for nicotine develops, they start seeking more potent substances to vape. On the other hand, some are already habitual drug users who started using vape devices as they are more convenient to use compared to other drug paraphernalia.
Some of the more popular drugs that are being vaped include marijuana, dab weed (concentrated cannabis), K2 and Spice (synthetic cannabis), liquid THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), DMT, LSD, ketamine, and bath salts. There are also drugs that need to be stabilized before they can be vaped like meth.
When you vape drugs, this could get you high. For example, vaping dab weed, which is a concentrated form of marijuana can deliver mind-altering effects. Dab weed is known to contain more THC, which is the psychoactive compound in cannabis. Compared to regular weed that contains 10% to 15% THC, dab weed can have as much as 80% THC.
The not-so-obvious dangers of vaping
Vaping can be an addictive habit. For teens, it can be more dangerous because their brains are not fully developed yet and vaping nicotine can affect their brain development. Being addicted to vaping nicotine could also be a gateway to vaping other drugs, especially for those who are seeking a stronger rush.
The convenience offered by vaping could also lead to excessive drug use. Because it is easier to get away with vaping, people are preferring to use vape devices whether to smoke nicotine or other drugs. Most vape devices are slim, small, and can be carried anywhere unlike most drug paraphernalia. Because it is easier to stay discreet, people who vape drugs can even do so in public. For example, while others might think that you are just vaping nicotine, you could already be vaping dab weed without anybody noticing.
Another threat is when you vape pre-filled vape devices from unknown sources. In 2019, the FDA warned the public to stop using pre-filled vape devices containing THC because of an outbreak of lung diseases. It was found that most of the patients reported using THC vape products before experiencing health issues. It was suspected that these vaping devices contained toxic materials and even poison that could have led to the lung disease outbreak. Even if cannabis is legal in your state, you should be careful about buying pre-filled THC vaping devices because they might contain contaminants that could harm your health.
Vaping drugs that are not supposed to be vaped can also be dangerous. Some people experiment by trying to vape different kinds of drugs. The problem with this is that some drugs can be toxic when vaporized. One study concluded that the dangers of illegal drug misuse with pen vaporizers are more serious because the drugs are more concentrated. If you try to experiment with vaping different drugs, you could experience serious health consequences.
If you are struggling with substance abuse, help is available.
Contact Morningside Recovery by Lighthouse today to learn more about how we can be of help.
