Evaluating the Effectiveness of Recovery-Oriented Interventions for Youth Who Vape Nicotine: A Systematic Review
Abstract
The increase in nicotine vaping among youth has emerged as a critical public health concern worldwide, outlining the demand for research to explore youth vaping recovery. Randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies were systematically reviewed using the rigorous PRISMA guidelines to identify and evaluate all recovery-oriented interventions for youth aged 10-24 that facilitate nicotine vaping recovery. MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Scopus, and CINAHL were searched, and eligible studies (n = 6) examined school-based interventions, social media campaigns, text message programs, telehealth-based behavioural programs, and protection motivation theory interventions. The studies prioritized abstinence and lacked long-term follow-up, reducing generalizability to youth not ready for complete cessation. The findings outline the need for youth-centred and harm reduction-based vaping recovery interventions that prioritize flexibility and incremental progress over complete cessation. This review calls for a paradigm shift in vaping recovery frameworks, advocating for participatory approaches that integrate youth voices and qualitative insights into intervention design.