Travis Barker’s daughter Alabama’s hospitalization sparks expert warning on vape withdrawal dangers
Experts have revealed the dangers of quitting vaping ‘cold turkey’ after Travis Barker’s daughter Alabama was reportedly hospitalized with nicotine withdrawal.
The 19-year-old singer is alleged to have quit vaping a month ago after being told it would ruin her voice. But she was later rushed to the hospital feeling ‘panicked and unwell one day while alone,’ according to reports from TMZ.
Now, experts are warning people of the risks of quitting vaping suddenly and depriving the brain of the nicotine it has become accustomed to, which can cause both mental and physical side effects.
Sebna N. Osanmoh, a psychiatric nurse practitioner in New York who works with patients with addictions, warned nicotine withdrawal symptoms could start within just four hours of quitting the devices — and are most intense during the first two weeks.
Withdrawal symptoms are both physical — such as irritability, restlessness, headaches and fatigue — and emotional — such as low mood and heightened feelings of frustration and irritability, he said.
Speaking to DailyMail.com, he said: ‘In the first few days of quitting — you may notice intense cravings, headaches and irritability.
‘By the end of the first week, these symptoms begin to diminish. [And] within one month, you’ll notice improvements in your physical health and also feel less cravings.’
He added: ‘While quitting vaping cold turkey can be an effective method, it often comes with intense withdrawal symptoms and emotional challenges as the body adjusts to the absence of nicotine.’
Alabama Barker was reportedly hospitalized after suffering from nicotine withdrawal symptoms. She is pictured above on her Instagram this month
Alabama is 19 years old and the daughter of musician Travis Barker. She is pictured above in an image posted to her Instagram
Vapes and cigarettes are so addictive because they contain nicotine, which prompts spikes in dopamine – the feel-good hormone – in the brain.
Experts suggest that some e-cigarettes may be even more addictive because they can contain more nicotine than a cigarette.
Customers also have the option of buying ‘extra strength’ cartridges, which contain even more nicotine. They can also change the settings on their vape to deliver a bigger puff of the substance.
Among the most popular methods of quitting the habit is going ‘cold turkey’ — which sees users abruptly stopping the devices as opposed to gradually weaning themselves off them.
About two-thirds of cigarette smokers surveyed say they have tried this method.
But it is not often successful, with another survey — also in smokers — finding 95 to 98 percent of people who try to quit cold turkey return to smoking or vaping within six months.
Experts say this is because intense cravings that come from sudden nicotine withdrawal are often so intense and uncomfortable people cannot resist them.
They add it is easier to quit if people gradually taper down their use of vapes and nicotine exposure, to effectively ‘wean’ themselves off the devices. Products like nicotine patches are also available to help someone reduce their cravings.
Mr Osanmoh said: ‘The physical effects of quitting cold turkey are primarily driven by nicotine withdrawals.
‘Individuals often face strong cravings along with irritability and restlessness. It makes it difficult to focus or maintain a sense of calm.’
He also warned people could suffer from fatigue, headaches, dizziness, nausea, increased hunger, difficulty sleeping and a dry mouth and throat.
Tests on e-cigarettes confiscated from young people found they contained dangerous levels of lead, nickel and chromium
He added: ‘Many people report mood swings, feelings of frustration and heightened sensitivity in the initial days after quitting.
‘Your anxiety levels may temporarily increase as your body and mind adapt to life without nicotine’s calming effects. Some individuals also describe a sense of loss or emptiness.’
Others have also suggested vapers may suffer from tremors, or shaking, which can result from a lack of dopamine in the nervous system.
Alabama was reported to be an ‘occasional’ vape user by TMZ, which first reported she had been hospitalized for vaping.
She was taken to the hospital after calling 911 herself within the last month after experiencing intense feelings of panic and being unwell, reports said, but she has now been discharged.
It is not clear what treatment she received or how much she used to vape.
Alabama has not responded to DailyMail.com’s requests for comment.
More than half of the people who vape say they have considered quitting
Vaping, or e-cigarette, use has surged in the US — with 4.5 percent of Americans over 18 years old, or 11.6million people, now using the devices.
Numbers are even higher among those aged 18 to 24 years old, with 11 percent vaping — or 3.4million people.
Amid concerns over the health risks and costs, however, more people are trying to quit the habit.
Surveys suggest about 33 percent of vapers attempt to drop their pens for good every year, while more than half (54 percent) say they are thinking about quitting.
