Psychologist Reveals the Shocking Signs of Vaping Addiction: 'Her Vomit Started Tasting Like Strawberry'

An Australian psychologist has listed the worrying symptoms of vape addiction.

Claire Wakefield, a Minderoo Foundation researcher and psychologist, appeared on Abbie Chatfield's Its A Lot podcast to discuss the vaping epidemic and its harmful effects on the human body.

“The clues that I think are concerning are when you start thinking about it when you don't want to think about it,” she told Abbie during the episode.

'You wake up in the morning and the first thing you think is, “Where's my vape?” Or when you get scared you're left wondering where I'm going to get my next one.'

But Ms Wakefield explained that the worst type of symptom is called 'nic-sick', which is another term for nicotine poisoning.

“The one that really stood out to me – and there's a lot of evidence for it – is acute nicotine poisoning, which they call 'nic-sick,'” she added. “That's actually the case if you have too much nicotine at once.”

Mrs. Wakefield later shocked Chatfield when she recalled a young vape-addicted woman vomiting a strawberry-like flavor coming from her vape.

“She says she knew she had a problem when her vomit started to taste like steam,” Mrs. Wakefield said, causing Chatfield to gasp in shock.

“Strawberry-flavored vomit because she had so much vape. If you google 'Vape burns', it's not pretty.”

Mrs. Wakefield later shocked Chatfield when she recalled a young vape-addicted woman vomiting a strawberry-like flavor coming from her vape (pictured is a stock photo)

The symptoms left listeners shocked, with some revealing that the episode struck a nerve not to pick up a fume again.

“Wow, thank you, I literally quit on Sunday. This will keep me motivated,” one user wrote.

Australia now has strict vaping laws and regulations that came into effect on January 1.

Disposable vapes will no longer be allowed to be imported into Australia as the government moves to prevent flavored devices from being sold in convenience stores.

This applies to disposable vapes, regardless of nicotine content or therapeutic claims.

The rules will make it illegal to import disposable vapes on or after January 1, even if those vapes were ordered before that date and have not yet arrived in Australia.

Health Minister Mark Butler only announced the measure on November 28, arguing they were needed to prevent teenagers becoming addicted to nicotine.

“These reforms will protect Australians, especially young people, from the harms of vaping and nicotine addiction,” he said.

The federal government has reached an agreement with state and territory health ministers, almost all of whom are part of the Labor Party, with the exception of Tasmania.

The vape import ban is done through regulation, meaning Mr Butler can issue an order, subject to approval by Governor General David Hurley, until Parliament passes a new law to enforce a permanent ban.

Disposable vapes will no longer be allowed to be imported into Australia as the government moves to prevent flavored devices from being sold in convenience stores (pictured is a stock photo)

This ban will also coincide with a new special access pathway, which will allow doctors and nurses to prescribe vapes to people with nicotine addiction.

The import ban on non-therapeutic vapes comes into effect on March 1, meaning importers will need to obtain a customs permit and be allowed to import therapeutic vapes, with flavors limited to mint, menthol and tobacco.

From that date, convenience stores can continue to sell them, provided they do not contain nicotine and make no medicinal claims.

There are fears that younger people will turn to vaping as the popularity of cigarettes declines

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released just before Christmas showed 14.4 percent of adults had tried an e-cigarette or vape.

The number of daily smokers fell to 10.6 percent in 2022, halved from 22.4 percent in 2001; 58.3 percent of adults indicated that they had never smoked.

But there are fears that younger people may turn to vaping as the popularity of cigarettes declines, with tobacco only allowed to be sold in dull olive green packaging with images of diseased body parts.