If you experience childhood trauma, you might be more likely to use substances resembling alcohol, tobacco AND other medicines Later. But what does the evidence say about vaporizers?
Our new study was the primary to examine the links between childhood trauma and vaping habits among Australian teenagers. Those who had a traumatic experience before age 12 were more likely to have tried vaping, vaped repeatedly, or intended to achieve this in the long run.
Despite bans on the import and sale of vaporizers containing nicotine, labeling gaps meant they were still easily accessible. A study of 423 vaporizers confiscated from New South Wales retailers in 2022 found that 98.8% contained nicotine.
While quitting nicotine is a challenge for most individuals, our research suggests that young individuals who have experienced trauma may face additional challenges and wish tailored support.
Trauma and substance use
For individuals who experience trauma early in life, the results can go far beyond the event itself. Trauma is a form psychological harm brought on by experiences that pose a serious threat to your life or the lifetime of others. These may include emotional, physical and sexual abuse or exposure to natural disasters and serious accidents.
Research links childhood trauma to negativity physical AND sanity results. This covers it higher rates substance use and addiction.
The reasons for this are complex and should involve numerous aspects, including social and environmental influences. For example, young individuals who have experienced trauma are more likely be exposed to using psychoactive substances by people around them.
But trauma also affects brain development, which can impact whether we’re more likely to use substances.
Traumatic experiences can lead to greater ones impulsiveness AND dangerous behavior. Trauma can also disrupt the way in which you take care of stress, lift our response to future stressors.
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Self-medicating is dangerous for the developing brain
This is more often experienced by individuals who experienced trauma in childhood difficulty identifying, understanding and expressing emotions (so-called alexithymia). This is why we regularly speak about substance use as self-medication – a way to cope with emotional pain and stress.
However, self-medication is particularly problematic for young people. An adolescent’s brain is still developing, so it is more susceptible to the harmful effects of external aspects nicotine, alcohol and other medications.
Young people develop into addicted to nicotine faster than adults – and stronger cravings may make it harder for them to quit.
We found a link between early trauma and teenage vaping
A handful of studies I discovered consistent links between childhood trauma and vaping. But tests focused mainly on adults fairly than asking teenagers about vape use. It was only one study about trauma and vaping in Australia and involved adult women.
But we all know there are young people in Australia exposed to vaporizers early – and that the variety of teenagers who vape is growing.
Our new study examined self-report surveys of two,234 Year 7 and eight students from 33 schools in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia, collected as a part of the study Health4Life study. The surveys assessed history of trauma at age 12 and vaping use three years later.
We found that individuals who experienced a traumatic experience at age 12 were more likely to say at age 15 that that they had tried vaping (64%), vaped repeatedly (63%), or intended to vape in the long run (44%).
Challenges of quitting smoking
Our new findings show a good younger group of Australians are prone to vaping and nicotine addiction. Many people may already be addicted.
Nicotine is there highly addictive and quitting smoking often takes multiple attempts due to difficult withdrawal symptoms. People often require a mix of behavioral support – resembling counseling – and pharmacological support, which can include nicotine alternative therapy or therapeutic vaporizers.
Current guidelines for primary care physicians emphasize the shortage of research on supporting teenagers in quitting smoking. The available evidence is based on studies conducted in adults or on smoking.
New federal laws we now have made therapeutic vaporizers – used to treat nicotine addiction – available on prescription to people under 18 years of age. However, this is subject to state and territory laws.
Other challenges
A history of trauma may increase the challenges of quitting smoking.
We know family AND social support are strong protective aspects for young people – for instance, when in search of help quit smoking.
However, this support is less likely to be available to children who’ve experienced violence and abuse given: more than likely the perpetrators they’re their circle of relatives.
Childhood trauma can also lead to a scarcity of trust in health care professionals.
In addition to GPs and counsellors, young people exposed to early trauma are likely to need specialist psychological support to develop healthier coping strategies.
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What young people need
We need a mix of universal and targeted prevention strategies.
In 2022-23, we now have developed a universal school prevention program, the so-called OurFutures vaping program. It is currently being evaluated with over 5,000 students in New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland, and refined in response to student and teacher feedback.
We also need strategies that recognize childhood trauma as a risk factor for vaping and give attention to harm reduction. We must do more to reduce childhood trauma evidence-based methods break cycles of abuse.
Consistent AND culturally secure These methods can help discover young individuals with trauma early and supply them with access to comprehensive support trauma-informed care.
Not all young people exposed to trauma will experience negative effects, but many will – and Australia must be higher prepared to respond.