Addicted to vaping, I co-founded a startup to help others quit

I started smoking casually at parties and never expected to become dependent. The first time I tried a vape I felt the most intense head rush I'd ever had, and within weeks I owned one. What began as social smoking quickly turned into constant use; I would get panicky if I didn't know where my vape was.

Physical changes followed: running became harder and my migraines worsened. After about a year I wanted to quit and talked with my mom, a family physician, who helped me look at my nicotine use without judgment. She calculated I was consuming the equivalent of a two-pack-a-day smoker and helped me map out a plan using nicotine replacement therapy at a dose that would actually work.

My best friend Hilary joined me in quitting and in November 2023 we launched Jones. We pair nicotine-replacement mints with an app to address psychological cravings and community support.

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