Ramsay Clinic Northside’s Vaping Cessation Clinic is offering patients access to a new, Australian-first test which uses a patient’s saliva to instantly determine nicotine levels in their body.
Professor Renee Bittoun, who spearheaded the establishment of the vaping cessation clinic, conceived the idea of the ‘graded nicotine test’ now being produced overseas.
“The use of vapes has increased dramatically in recent years, particularly among young people,” Professor Bittoun said.
“The danger of these vapes is still relatively unknown. But when you’re inhaling something into your lungs, be it cigarette smoke or any other sort of smoke or vape, it’s not benign, it’s not water vapour. The vape from vaping almost always contains nicotine.
“Emergency departments are seeing more and more young people with abnormal vascular conditions because of these really high doses of nicotine.”
Professor Bittoun fears vapes are undoing Australia’s world-leading progress on tobacco control, something she has been advocating for since the 1970s. Concerningly, she says she is seeing more and more young people addicted to nicotine.
“The younger you are when you start your exposure to nicotine, the harder it is to quit,” she said.
“I am treating teenagers so addicted they get expelled from school, or just quit school to have more time to vape. Some begin vaping from the minute they open their eyes.”
Professor Bittoun said she hopes seeing the nicotine levels in their bodies will be a wake-up call for anyone who takes the test.
For those who want to quit, she is offering evidence-based tips to help, including:
- Get up to do a short burst of exercise every time the urge to vape strikes.
- Suck on a jelly bean or other lolly, especially after meals.
- Try diversional activities such as fidget spinners.
- Reduce caffeine and alcohol, which stimulate the urge to vape.
- Institute a vape-free home.
- Draw on the support of Quitline or a vaping cessation specialist.
Ramsay Clinic Northside offers a comprehensive vaping cessation program that encompasses and addresses all aspects of vaping addiction. The program is open to people of all ages at all stages of addiction.
