E-cigarettes 'help smokers to quit'

[Prophet 451]

Smokers who use e-cigarettes to quit are more likely to succeed than those who use willpower alone or buy nicotine replacement therapies, such as patches or gum, a study suggests.

The survey of nearly 6,000 smokers found a fifth had quit with the aid of e-cigarettes.

That was 60% higher than those who did not use the devices, the study said.

The University College London team said they were "cautiously positive" about the role e-cigarettes could play.

E-cigarette use has shot up in recent years.

Action on Smoking and Health estimate there are more than 2m people using them - triple the number from two years ago.

Half of current or ex-smokers have not tried them compared to 8% in 2010.

Users experience the sensation of smoking by inhaling a vapour which contains a concentration of nicotine.

But they remain controversial. The Welsh government wants to restrict their use in public places, because of fears they normalise smoking.

BBC News
_______________________________________________________________

The study also shows that use of e-cigs by people who've never smoked barely exists, that the NHS regulator is looking into adding them to the NHS's aids to stop smoking and that, while not everything is yet known about the effects of e-cigs, they're likely to be far less harmful than tobacco smoke.

I've been using my e-cig for a little under two months. I was a 50-a-day smoker for 25 years. As soon as I started using an e-cig, that went down to four or five and within a month, I was able to cut out those last few. On Thursday, it'll be a month since my last cigarette and I'll consider myself as having quit. That's with no cravings, no irritability and no real downside. I had a couple of days of feeling like I needed to do something with my hands but that was easily dealt with (I just painted more). There's no second-hand smoke (so my SO and cats are better off), just the smell of cinnamon. In time, I'll gradually reduce the amount of nicotine in my liquids until I'm just puffing flavoured steam (I'll keep doing that simply because I enjoy it).

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. What does 'quit' mean in context?

Do they stop putting things in their mouths entirely, or does the study count moving from regular cigarettes entirely to e-cigarettes as 'quitting'?

The positive I find in e-cigs is that e-cig smokers don't treat the world as their trash can, throwing their butts all over the place. If they can find a way to create e-gum, they can continue the job of getting rid of most of the trash I see all over parking lots and outside building entrances.

[Prophet 451]

2. It means they stop smoking

Vaping is not smoking so moving entirely to e-cigs counts as quitting.

BTW, I share your hatred for gum everywhere. I remember reading that one company was working on gum that will degrade into nothing within a few months. So there is hope.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

3. I think I would have been a bit more stringent in my definition of quitting.

And at least made it 'stopped using nicotine' even in vaping products.

Good news on the gum indeed. Although that reminds me that the 'biodegradable' chip bags seem to have appeared and then disappeared again. They don't seem to have caught on.

[Prophet 451]

4. They were in use here

A convienience store chain called Spar uses them here. I suspect it will come down to price in the end although I certainly wouldn't shed a tr if the degradable stuff was made mandatory.

And quitting smoking is a big step up in itself. Nicotine alone is not harmless but it's vastly less harmful than tobacco smoke.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

5. True that. nt

[Demit]

6. Quitting smoking means quitting smoking.

We talk about smokers and ex-smokers. For decades now, smokers=bad, ex-smokers=good. Doctors say "I want you to quit smoking," not "I want you to quit nicotine." Smoking is the thing that's so detrimental to your health, because of the accumulation of tars & combustion by-products in the body, not because of the nicotine. Your desired definition isn't more stringent, it's wrong.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

7. Shrug. By your definition...

They could all have 'quit smoking' simply by moving to chewing tobacco. But we don't have campaigns to get people to move from 'smoking' to 'chewing'.

[KittyWampus]

48. There are DOCTOR RECOMMENDATIONS for chewing, though.

[misterhighwasted]

8. But then the E-Gum would be stuck everywhere. Electronic vapeing is clean & green.

E-Vapes not E-Cigarettes
A nicotine delivery system, if the user so chooses.
There's nothing "cigarette" about a vaping device.

As for putting things in the mouth, I can't tell you how many times a day I see people sucking on drink straws, water bottles, etc.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

9. My assumption with 'e-gum'

is the same as with 'e-cigs' - that it would somehow be an 'infinitely reusable' product, sort of like an 'everlasting gobstopper' from the willy wonka move. So you wouldn't be spitting it out onto the ground.

[misterhighwasted]

11. Okay. that's an interesting concept & it could also contain nourishment for non-vapers who ,

for instance, run/bike long distance, endurance sports, etc.
Great ideas beg for evolution.
Look what happened with the concept of Vaping.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

12. Did you see the posts on soylent?

Obviously not the same thing, but it sounds like a decent medium for micromanaging nourishment for sporty types, especially if you made your own recipes from the free ones online.

[misterhighwasted]

15. No I didn't see the soylent posts. Where do I find them?

I'd like to read that for the sake of curiosity at least.
Thanks

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

23. Here's one.

There were at least two, but this is the one I was able to drag up quickly.

[Dawgs]

10. Sorry, but "quitting" is not smoking a cigarette for at least a year.

Stopping and taking up e-cigs is not quitting if the person starts back on regular cigarettes after a few months.

Take it from someone that tried quitting two or three times only to start up again after a having a weak moment.

I hope that's not the case for you, but just don't believe that it's truly out of your system after only a month.

[misterhighwasted]

14. True. Maybe its just an alternative. Tobacco cigs have over 4000 toxins, including cyanide.

When I vape a nicotine based liquid, I am then down to ONE toxin.
I am really okay with that.
It may not be only the nicotine that keeps some return to tobacco.
Maybe its one of the other 3999 toxins our body craves.

I just do the best I can.
Kudos to those who will never return to tobacco
And Kudos to those of us who keep trying.

happy vaping.

[Prophet 451]

16. Well, my one month line...

... is when I shall consider myself to have quit enough to get rid of my stockpiled tobacco. Y'see, I didn't intend to quit so I continued buying tobacco in bulk but I found I culdcontinue to get the same sensation in nicer flavours from my e-cig (and if they ban e-cigs, I'll go straight back to smoking).

[misterhighwasted]

17. I actually quit tobacco for 3 years. And one day I just bought a pack & smoked

for the next 16 years. Go Figure. Have no idea what the trigger was.

I have vaped for a while now. So as far as I am concerned I have quit. Again. Maybe this time longer than 3 years.

We do the best we can.

[Prophet 451]

19. Good luck to you, mate

I honestly think this is the best smoking reduction device to ever come along and obviously, the NHS thinks it's very effective as well.

[Warpy]

28. That happens to a lot of people when they let their guard down

E-cigs are a good compromise for people who just can't seem to stay off cigarettes. Anything is better than inhaling concentrated smoke.

A lot of people are tapering down the nicotine without even noticing since they take only enough drags to shut up the monsters in their brains instead of smoking a cigarette down to the filter because they're so expensive.

Eventually a lot of them step down nicotine so far that they just use the flavored stuff without the nicotine and do fine.

I hope the FDA regulates them for safety and consistent dosage. Beyond that, I'd really hate to see them heavily regulated.

[Prophet 451]

33. A certain amount of regulation is fine

I think regulating for age, consistent average strength (as all liquids will vary slightly due to the manufacturing process) and, in as much as a nicotine delivery system can be safe, product safety is fine. But there is a danger (which Big Tobacco (who put out teh revolting disposable that no-one likes) and really propogandising) of regulating the market to death. I think that would be an incredible missed opportunity. I, for one, would go straight back to smoking if that happened.

[krawhitham]

24. OK, by your definition I'll have quit in 5 days thanks to E-Cigs

I paused smoking on Towel Day last year, but apparently I will not have quit until the 25th

[Dawgs]

25. I'm not sure I'm following.

Quitting, to me, is when you stop for good. And, in my experience, that takes a long time.

[krawhitham]

27. Towel day is always May 25th

The last cigarette I had was on Towel Day 2013, Towel day is always May 25th.

It was said you have not quit until you are smoke free for a year, in 5 more days it will be Towel Day 2014. Which means by your definition of quitting I will have quit in 5 more day. So far I have only paused my smoking

[FunkyLeprechaun]

13. I know of people who get addicted to

smoking cessation devices- the gum and the patch.

E-cigs are just another one of those. I think a smoker really should consider themselves an ex-smoker once they completely stop using these smoking cessation devices.

[Prophet 451]

18. Well, I didn't start out looking to quit

I started vaping at my SO's suggestion and discovered I could get the sensation of smoking without actually smoking and in nicer flavours so I quit smoking. If they ban e-cigs, I'd just start smoking again. In time, I'll gradually reduce the nicotine in my liquids (most of them are available in various nicotine strengths) until I'm down to 0% (my SO is using 0% liquids in sweet flavours to help her diet) and then, I won't be using any nicotine at all (which is quitting by anyone's standard), just huffing flavoured steam for teh sensation.

[misterhighwasted]

22. Its like having to give up your favorite comfort food. FOREVER.

Like me & ice cream. It is fattening as hell & I have no idea why I chose ice cream as my go to food. Why didn't I choose a leaf of spinach for comfort..or why do I need this comfort thing at all?

We all have our vices.

[randome]

20. Everyone deals with addiction differently.

For some, e-cigarettes do little to cure the habit. For others, it's a great way to wean themselves off the habit.

People are complicated.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]I'm always right. When I'm wrong I admit it.
So then I'm right about being wrong.[/center][/font][hr]

[Prophet 451]

21. Entirely true

But e-cigs are effective enough for enough people that the NHS is looking into putting them on prescription. They're a fantastic option for those looking to quit although, as you say, they won't work for everyone.

[War Horse]

26. This is sort of in the 'water is wet' category ;)

No offense meant to you, OP, obviously. Of course they help people quit.

It's just that I just don't get the hostily towards e-cigs. Several of my friends have quit. Ok, "quit", as they're still on e-cigs. In my book that counts as quitting, as their BP is much, much, better, their cardiovascular health has improved vastly, etc etc etc.

If more people switch from analog to e-cigs I would think that those who are allergic to cigarette smoke, are worried abt. second hand smoke or just can't stand the smell of tobacco would breathe a huge sigh of relief.

This whole 'but you're still a smoker' has a morality police whiff to it that rubs me the wrong way.

[Prophet 451]

30. I count it as quitting

And I agree with you on the whole smug superiority and fear mongering of the anti e-cig crowd.

[Oilwellian]

29. I think the key to quitting is getting a good throat hit from a vape

The over the counter ecigs you get from the local 7/11 store won't provide that to someone who's trying to quit. It wasn't until I invested in a larger battery and strong tank that I was able to quit smoking entirely. Within seven months, I was able to take nicotine out of my vaping experience without any withdrawal symptoms. I don't miss cigarettes, I don't miss nicotine, but still love and am addicted to the process. I spent forty years feeding that habit and am proud to have taken the toxins out of the equation. Vapes are a miracle and will save countless lives.

[Prophet 451]

31. I agree with that entirely

In due course, I may well go the same way myself. And e-cig's life saving capacity is why the NHS is investigating making them available on prescription for smokers trying to quit.

[Oilwellian]

41. I'm not sure why a prescription is needed

One doesn't have to have one for nicotine gum and patches. It seems a prescription will be a great hindrance, hence more people will continue to smoke. Kinda defeats the purpose.

[LadyHawkAZ]

46. I don't know how it works over there

but I would think a prescription would mean that NHS would pick up the tab for the device rather than the person paying out of pocket.

[Prophet 451]

50. Exactloy right

You'd just have to pay the small admin fee (about $15 and the young, old and poor are exempt).

[Prophet 451]

49. OK, quick explanation

You'd still be able to buy e-cigs and liquids yourself. But putting them on prescription as well means that if your doctor prescribes one, the NHS will pick up the cost. To get a prescription filled, you only need to pay a small admin fee (about $15 and the young, old and poor are exempt). They do the same thing for patches and gum. You can buy them but if your doctor will prescribe them, it's generally far cheaper.

[Iggo]

32. A survey of 6000 smokers found that a fifth of them weren't smokers.

Wait...

[Egnever]

34. wow a month already!

And you were able to completely cut out the cigs!

Good stuff man, by this time you should be starting to see some health benefits.

I bet you are already breathing easier and smelling things you haven't smelled in years.

Way to go and I hanks for the link.

[Prophet 451]

36. Thanks dude

My sense of smell is already back with a vengence and my breathing is starting to get a little easier. It's a revelation, it really is.

[Egnever]

38. That it is

It has been almost two years now for me and in that time I have been out at bars a couple of time with friends and smoked but I never do the next day. It has made a large impact on my health I used to cough all the time and now I never do. I breathe so much easier and feel better generally.

All that and I get to vape yummy Carmel tastiness.I feel like I am cheating every day.

[Prophet 451]

39. I'm coughing a bit

Mainly getting up all the sludge from 25 years of heavy smoking. And I get to vape yummy cinnamon all day!

[Egnever]

40. yup

The sludge will clear though and the coughing will go away.Should not take much longer now.

Grats again on finding your way to quitting without even really trying to.

[angstlessk]

44. I am on e-cigs now and the coughing is totally gone!

When the coughing stopped it seemed so unnatural! But my SO does not smoke and does not cough, so I figure it's okay NOT to cough. I used to wake up almost every hour coughing...

And was totally embarrassed when talking on the phone for any length of time cause I would suppress my cough as long as I could, but invariably end up coughing what I am sure sounded like coughing up a lung

Good luck to anyone on e-cigs and to anyone thinking about trying them to quit regular cigs...GO FOR IT

Like one other poster said, go for the battery and cartridge vaping style, rather than the e-cigs that look like a real cigarette...

Here is a link to the place I got started, http://altsmoke.com/ I also like Halo.com

[Oilwellian]

42. I have an uncle who smoked for 60 years

He quit cold turkey. Ten years after he quit, he had to have a pacemaker put in. After the surgery, the nurse told him he had the lungs of a baby. He told her that's impossible, I smoked for 60 years. She of course was shocked to hear that and it proves your body can heal completely over time. He's still kicking at the age of 90.

[benld74]

35. I got hypnotized back in '88, havent smoked since.

[Prophet 451]

37. Too expensive

The NHS doesn't cover hypnotherapy. And I didn't go into this expecting to quit. I started with e-cigs just to make my SO feel better. I found that, since I get the same sensation and the nicotine in much nicer flavours, I no longer need to smoke.

[Oilwellian]

43. It didn't work for me, but...

I know several people who were able to quit after a few sessions.

[arely staircase]

45. it is the only thing that worked for me.

2.5 years now without a cig. I hit the vaporizer very infrequently now. I keep it a round in case I have a few beers and get tempted to smoke.

[BainsBane]

47. Good, but even if they didn't

They are a lot less noxious to bystanders. I hate cigarettes and cigarette smoke as much as anyone possibly could, but at a certain point people need to leave smokers in peace. We can't legislate smoking out of existence. Yes, we need to protect the public from second-hand smoke, but there also needs to be some regard for the rights of smokers to make their own choices.

As for whether some people here consider one months enough time to be considered having "quit smoking." who cares. For the addict, it's that much less smoke in his body.

Congrats to you and keep up the good work!

[Prophet 451]

51. Thanks! n/t