People are ditching their vapes only to pick up another surprising habit

E-cigarettes have long been used as an alternative to traditional smoking , but public health data suggests some adults trying to quit vaping are turning back to cigarettes.

Recent data from Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) shows that some smokers and dual users who stop vaping opt for traditional tobacco products instead, a shift that addiction specialists say may be driven by nicotine dependence and the challenges of withdrawal.

Trent Carter, a board-certified nurse practitioner and CEO of Renew Health — a behavioral and mental health practice based in New Mexico — said that while the shift from vapes back to cigarettes might seem counterintuitive, there are behavioral reasons some users make the switch.

SINGLE WORKOUT CUTS CRAVINGS, OFFERING NEW HOPE FOR SMOKERS TRYING TO QUIT "Vaping can become constant throughout the day, whereas a cigarette is more of a defined episode," Carter told Fox News Digital.

"Subconsciously, you may not even realize that you’re constantly vaping throughout the day, whereas cigarettes you feel like you're more in control because you have to think about it.

You [have] to go outside, you [have] to light it up." Unlike cigarettes, vaping can be done throughout the day and often indoors.

That easy access can lead to more nicotine use and reinforce the hand-to-mouth habit, according to the expert.

E-cigarettes can be highly addictive because of the way they deliver nicotine .

Many vaping devices use highly concentrated nicotine salts, allowing users to inhale large doses with each puff compared to traditional cigarettes.

"If you're consuming a large amount with every single puff ... it's going to be harder to stop when compared to a lower dose," Carter said.

SHARON STONE'S TERRIFYING WEED WITHDRAWAL SPARKS WARNING ABOUT TODAY'S POTENT MARIJUANA Nicotine dependence alters brain chemistry by stimulating neurotransmitters like dopamine that govern mood and pleasure, according to Cleveland Clinic.

When someone abruptly cuts off high-volume intake, it can trigger rapid withdrawal symptoms , ranging from intense cravings and irritability to severe sleep disturbances and brain fog.

Because high-potency vapes drive up physical tolerance, standard quitting aids — like over-the-counter patches or nicotine gum — can sometimes feel inadequate to a user seeking immediate relief.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER "While a patch or gum could definitely help with the nicotine cravings, if you're not addressing the behavioral aspect of it, then you're really falling short," Carter said.