Vaping use has risen globally, which is a concern for public health professionals. At the same time, there has been an increase in people looking to reduce the negative impacts of their vaping, termed herein as “vaping recovery.” The concept of vaping recovery is a frequently misunderstood term, often being limited to strict abstinence or cessation. A standardized understanding of vaping recovery is compiled to clarify its use within research, clinical practice, and policy to be congruent with other addiction/substance use terminologies. Walker and Avant’s eight‐step approach to concept analysis was utilized to define and standardize the concept of vaping recovery. An extensive literature review was conducted using Scopus, CINAHL, dictionaries, and gray literature. Three defining attributes of vaping recovery were identified: its multifaceted nature, iterative process, and characterization as a personal journey. Model, borderline, and contrary cases are presented to illustrate the concept’s boundaries. Antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents are also outlined, offering observable indicators for practice. This analysis adopts a harm reduction lens, emphasizing that people may still vape and yet be meaningfully engaged in recovery. Based on the analysis, vaping recovery is defined as a multifaceted, iterative, and personalized process through which people work toward improved well‐being, autonomy, and quality of life. Implications include enhancing nursing education, guiding research on how recovery is measured, and informing policies that better reflect the realities of those in recovery. The redefined concept of vaping recovery challenges abstinence‐only views and supports more empathetic, evidence‐based approaches to vaping use disorder across health sectors.
Kaltabanis et al. (Thu,) studied this question.