Man detoxing from vaping HHC thought he was 'dying'

A 22-year-old man, Jakub, was hospitalized recently after years of vaping HHC, a stronger and illegal semi-synthetic cannabinoid in Ireland. Jakub experienced severe withdrawal symptoms, including heart palpitations, vomiting, leg cramps, and an increased heart rate. He believed he was going to die and feared for his life. Jakub started using HHC vapes four years ago after being introduced to them by a friend.

He found them too easy to purchase and found himself constantly vaping, to the point where it controlled his life. Jakub could not go a day without vaping, experiencing mood swings, anger, and addiction. He acknowledged the dangers of HHC vapes after listening to RTÉ's coverage, but his attempt to quit led to severe withdrawal symptoms.

Jakub's parents noticed changes in him, such as puffy eyes, drowsiness, and slurred speech, but he denied his addiction due to shame. His addiction caused him to fall behind in his professional goals and strained his relationships. He is currently recovering at home, taking medication for nausea, heart issues, and pain, and still requires medical assistance for the next two weeks.