Lets run some numbers, then, shall we? Thirty years of smoking one pack a day equals 10,950 packs. When I started smoking, cigarettes cost under $1.00 a pack. Today, the cost is about $6.00 a pack where I live. So, I'm going to pick a somewhat arbitrary number of $3.00 a pack as an average. 10,950 x 3 = $32,850. Today, at $6 per pack, it's costing $2,190 a year. And the price keeps rising every time governments can't control their spending.Yeah, the government says they are increasing the cigarette taxes to discourage smokers from smoking, but really, they just want the money. As a nicotine addict, I can promise you, smokers will pay whatever it takes to get their fix. So are there any good solutions out there?
 |
| Grow your own - buy tobacco seeds. |
. While this cuts the cost, it's still smoking - and it's still killing you, even if roll-your own cigarettes contain less additives than commercial cigarettes..Most people have the false belief that nicotine alone causes cancer. But, whether nicotine alone is carcinogenic is an unknown. Most research indicates that while nicotine is very toxic in larger doses, by itself it does not cause cancer http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicotine#Toxicology. What nicotine does is cause an addiction that makes tobacco users continue to ingest tobacco. There are over 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke. This includes not only the natural by-products of tobacco combustion, but also additives. There are currently 599 additives approved for use in cigarettes. While obviously some of these ingredients are harmless (like water) others are a cause for concern. Over 4000 chemical compounds are created by burning a cigarette – 69 of those chemicals are known to cause cancer. Carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen cyanides and ammonia are all present in cigarette smoke. Forty-three known carcinogens are in mainstream smoke. Please refer to the list below.
Chemicals in Cigarettes and Cigarette Smoke
| ||
• Acetanisole
• Acetic Acid • Acetoin • Acetophenone • 6-Acetoxydihydrotheaspirane • 2-Acetyl-3- Ethylpyrazine • 2-Acetyl-5-Methylfuran • Acetylpyrazine • 2-Acetylpyridine • 3-Acetylpyridine • 2-Acetylthiazole • Aconitic Acid • dl-Alanine • Alfalfa Extract • Allspice Extract,Oleoresin, and Oil • Allyl Hexanoate • Allyl Ionone • Almond Bitter Oil • Ambergris Tincture • Ammonia • Ammonium Bicarbonate • Ammonium Hydroxide • Ammonium Phosphate Dibasic • Ammonium Sulfide • Amyl Alcohol • Amyl Butyrate • Amyl Formate • Amyl Octanoate • alpha-Amylcinnamaldehyde • Amyris Oil • trans-Anethole • Angelica Root Extract, Oil and Seed Oil • Anise • Anise Star, Extract and Oils • Anisyl Acetate • Anisyl Alcohol • Anisyl Formate • Anisyl Phenylacetate • Apple Juice Concentrate, Extract, and Skins • Apricot Extract and Juice Concentrate • 1-Arginine • Asafetida Fluid Extract And Oil • Ascorbic Acid • 1-Asparagine Monohydrate • 1-Aspartic Acid • Balsam Peru and Oil • Basil Oil • Bay Leaf, Oil and Sweet Oil • Beeswax White • Beet Juice Concentrate • Benzaldehyde • Benzaldehyde Glyceryl Acetal • Benzoic Acid, Benzoin • Benzoin Resin • Benzophenone • Benzyl Alcohol • Benzyl Benzoate • Benzyl Butyrate • Benzyl Cinnamate • Benzyl Propionate • Benzyl Salicylate • Bergamot Oil • Bisabolene • Black Currant Buds Absolute • Borneol • Bornyl Acetate • Buchu Leaf Oil • 1,3-Butanediol • 2,3-Butanedione • 1-Butanol • 2-Butanone • 4(2-Butenylidene)-3,5,5-Trimethyl-2-Cyclohexen-1-One • Butter, Butter Esters, and Butter Oil • Butyl Acetate • Butyl Butyrate • Butyl Butyryl Lactate • Butyl Isovalerate • Butyl Phenylacetate • Butyl Undecylenate • 3-Butylidenephthalide • Butyric Acid] • Cadinene • Caffeine • Calcium Carbonate • Camphene • Cananga Oil • Capsicum Oleoresin • Caramel Color • Caraway Oil • Carbon Dioxide • Cardamom Oleoresin, Extract, Seed Oil, and Powder • Carob Bean and Extract • beta-Carotene • Carrot Oil • Carvacrol • 4-Carvomenthenol • 1-Carvone • beta-Caryophyllene • beta-Caryophyllene Oxide • Cascarilla Oil and Bark Extract • Cassia Bark Oil • Cassie Absolute and Oil • Castoreum Extract, Tincture and Absolute • Cedar Leaf Oil • Cedarwood Oil Terpenes and Virginiana • Cedrol • Celery Seed Extract, Solid, Oil, And Oleoresin • Cellulose Fiber • Chamomile Flower Oil And Extract • Chicory Extract • Chocolate • Cinnamaldehyde • Cinnamic Acid • Cinnamon Leaf Oil, Bark Oil, and Extract • Cinnamyl Acetate • Cinnamyl Alcohol • Cinnamyl Cinnamate • Cinnamyl Isovalerate • Cinnamyl Propionate • Citral • Citric Acid • Citronella Oil • dl-Citronellol • Citronellyl Butyrate • itronellyl Isobutyrate • Civet Absolute • Clary Oil • Clover Tops, Red Solid Extract • Cocoa • Cocoa Shells, Extract, Distillate And Powder • Coconut Oil • Coffee • Cognac White and Green Oil • Copaiba Oil • Coriander Extract and Oil • Corn Oil • Corn Silk • Costus Root Oil • Cubeb Oil • Cuminaldehyde • para-Cymene • 1-Cysteine Dandelion Root Solid Extract • Davana Oil • 2-trans, 4-trans-Decadienal • delta-Decalactone • gamma-Decalactone • Decanal • Decanoic Acid • 1-Decanol • 2-Decenal • Dehydromenthofurolactone • Diethyl Malonate • Diethyl Sebacate • 2,3-Diethylpyrazine • Dihydro Anethole • 5,7-Dihydro-2-Methylthieno(3,4-D) Pyrimidine • Dill Seed Oil and Extract • meta-Dimethoxybenzene • para-Dimethoxybenzene • 2,6-Dimethoxyphenol • Dimethyl Succinate • 3,4-Dimethyl-1,2 Cyclopentanedione • 3,5- Dimethyl-1,2-Cyclopentanedione • 3,7-Dimethyl-1,3,6-Octatriene • 4,5-Dimethyl-3-Hydroxy-2,5- Dihydrofuran-2-One • 6,10-Dimethyl-5,9-Undecadien- 2-One • 3,7-Dimethyl-6-Octenoic Acid • 2,4 Dimethylacetophenone • alpha,para-Dimethylbenzyl Alcohol • alpha,alpha-Dimethylphenethyl Acetate • alpha,alpha Dimethylphenethyl Butyrate • 2,3-Dimethylpyrazine • 2,5-Dimethylpyrazine • 2,6-Dimethylpyrazine • Dimethyltetrahydrobenzofuranone • delta-Dodecalactone • gamma-Dodecalactone • para-Ethoxybenzaldehyde • Ethyl 10-Undecenoate • Ethyl 2-Methylbutyrate • Ethyl Acetate • Ethyl Acetoacetate • Ethyl Alcohol • Ethyl Benzoate • Ethyl Butyrate • Ethyl Cinnamate • Ethyl Decanoate • Ethyl Fenchol • Ethyl Furoate • Ethyl Heptanoate • Ethyl Hexanoate • Ethyl Isovalerate • Ethyl Lactate • Ethyl Laurate • Ethyl Levulinate • Ethyl Maltol • Ethyl Methyl Phenylglycidate • Ethyl Myristate • Ethyl Nonanoate • Ethyl Octadecanoate • Ethyl Octanoate |
• Ethyl Oleate
• Ethyl Palmitate • Ethyl Phenylacetate • Ethyl Propionate • Ethyl Salicylate • Ethyl trans-2-Butenoate • Ethyl Valerate • Ethyl Vanillin • 2-Ethyl (or Methyl)-(3,5 and 6)-Methoxypyrazine • 2-Ethyl-1-Hexanol, 3-Ethyl -2 - Hydroxy-2-Cyclopenten-1-One • 2-Ethyl-3, (5 or 6)-Dimethylpyrazine • 5-Ethyl-3-Hydroxy-4-Methyl-2 (5H)-Furanone • 2-Ethyl-3-Methylpyrazine • 4-Ethylbenzaldehyde • 4-Ethylguaiacol • para-Ethylphenol • 3-Ethylpyridine • Eucalyptol • Farnesol • D-Fenchone • Fennel Sweet Oil • Fenugreek, Extract, Resin, and Absolute • Fig Juice Concentrate • Food Starch Modified • Furfuryl Mercaptan • 4-(2-Furyl)-3-Buten-2-One • Galbanum Oil • Genet Absolute • Gentian Root Extract • Geraniol • Geranium Rose Oil • Geranyl Acetate • Geranyl Butyrate • Geranyl Formate • Geranyl Isovalerate • Geranyl Phenylacetate • Ginger Oil and Oleoresin • 1-Glutamic Acid • 1-Glutamine • Glycerol • Glycyrrhizin Ammoniated • Grape Juice Concentrate • Guaiac Wood Oil • Guaiacol • Guar Gum • 2,4-Heptadienal • gamma-Heptalactone • Heptanoic Acid • 2-Heptanone • 3-Hepten-2-One • 2-Hepten-4-One • 4-Heptenal • trans -2-Heptenal • Heptyl Acetate • omega-6-Hexadecenlactone • gamma-Hexalactone • Hexanal • Hexanoic Acid • 2-Hexen-1-Ol • 3-Hexen-1-Ol • cis-3-Hexen-1-Yl Acetate • 2-Hexenal • 3-Hexenoic Acid • trans-2-Hexenoic Acid • cis-3-Hexenyl Formate • Hexyl 2-Methylbutyrate • Hexyl Acetate • Hexyl Alcohol • Hexyl Phenylacetate • 1-Histidine • Honey • Hops Oil • Hydrolyzed Milk Solids • Hydrolyzed Plant Proteins • 5-Hydroxy-2,4-Decadienoic Acid delta-Lactone • 4-Hydroxy-2,5-Dimethyl-3(2H)-Furanone • 2-Hydroxy-3,5,5-Trimethyl-2-Cyclohexen-1-One • 4-Hydroxy -3-Pentenoic Acid Lactone • 2-Hydroxy-4-Methylbenzaldehyde • 4-Hydroxybutanoic Acid Lactone • Hydroxycitronellal • 6-Hydroxydihydrotheaspirane • 4-(para-Hydroxyphenyl)-2-Butanone • Hyssop Oil • Immortelle Absolute and Extract • alpha-Ionone • beta-Ionone • alpha-Irone • Isoamyl Acetate • Isoamyl Benzoate • Isoamyl Butyrate • Isoamyl Cinnamate • Isoamyl Formate, IsoamylHexanoate • Isoamyl Isovalerate • Isoamyl Octanoate • Isoamyl Phenylacetate • Isobornyl Acetate • Isobutyl Acetate • Isobutyl Alcohol • Isobutyl Cinnamate • Isobutyl Phenylacetate • Isobutyl Salicylate • 2-Isobutyl-3-Methoxypyrazine • alpha-Isobutylphenethyl Alcohol • Isobutyraldehyde • Isobutyric Acid • d,l-Isoleucine • alpha-Isomethylionone • 2-Isopropylphenol • Isovaleric Acid • Jasmine Absolute, Concrete and Oil • Kola Nut Extract • Labdanum Absolute and Oleoresin • Lactic Acid • Lauric Acid • Lauric Aldehyde • Lavandin Oil • Lavender Oil • Lemon Oil and Extract • Lemongrass Oil • 1-Leucine • Levulinic Acid • Licorice Root, Fluid, Extract and Powder • Lime Oil • Linalool • Linalool Oxide • Linalyl Acetate • Linden Flowers • Lovage Oil And Extract • 1-Lysine] • Mace Powder, Extract and Oil • Magnesium Carbonate • Malic Acid • Malt and Malt Extract • Maltodextrin • Maltol • Maltyl Isobutyrate • Mandarin Oil • Maple Syrup and Concentrate • Mate Leaf, Absolute and Oil • para-Mentha-8-Thiol-3-One • Menthol • Menthone • Menthyl Acetate • dl-Methionine • Methoprene • 2-Methoxy-4-Methylphenol • 2-Methoxy-4-Vinylphenol • para-Methoxybenzaldehyde • 1-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-1-Penten-3-One • 4-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-2-Butanone • 1-(para-Methoxyphenyl)-2-Propanone • Methoxypyrazine • Methyl 2-Furoate • Methyl 2-Octynoate • Methyl 2-Pyrrolyl Ketone • Methyl Anisate • Methyl Anthranilate • Methyl Benzoate • Methyl Cinnamate • Methyl Dihydrojasmonate • Methyl Ester of Rosin, Partially Hydrogenated • Methyl Isovalerate • Methyl Linoleate (48%) • Methyl Linolenate (52%) Mixture • Methyl Naphthyl Ketone • Methyl Nicotinate • Methyl Phenylacetate • Methyl Salicylate • Methyl Sulfide • 3-Methyl-1-Cyclopentadecanone • 4-Methyl-1-Phenyl-2-Pentanone • 5-Methyl-2-Phenyl-2-Hexenal • 5-Methyl-2-Thiophene-carboxaldehyde • 6-Methyl-3,-5-Heptadien-2-One • 2-Methyl-3-(para-Isopropylphenyl) Propionaldehyde • 5-Methyl-3-Hexen-2-One • 1-Methyl-3Methoxy-4-Isopropylbenzene • 4-Methyl-3-Pentene-2-One • 2-Methyl-4-Phenylbutyraldehyde • 6-Methyl-5-Hepten-2-One • 4-Methyl-5-Thiazoleethanol • 4-Methyl-5-Vinylthiazole • Methyl-alpha-Ionone • Methyl-trans-2-Butenoic Acid • 4-Methylacetophenone • para-Methylanisole • alpha-Methylbenzyl Acetate • alpha-Methylbenzyl Alcohol • 2-Methylbutyraldehyde • 3-Methylbutyraldehyde • 2-Methylbutyric Acid • alpha-Methylcinnamaldehyde • Methylcyclopentenolone • 2-Methylheptanoic Acid • 2-Methylhexanoic Acid • 3-Methylpentanoic Acid • 4-Methylpentanoic Acid • 2-Methylpyrazine • 5-Methylquinoxaline • 2-Methyltetrahydrofuran-3-One • (Methylthio)Methylpyrazine (Mixture Of Isomers) |
• 3-Methylthiopropionaldehyde
• Methyl 3-Methylthiopropionate • 2-Methylvaleric Acid • Mimosa Absolute and Extract • Molasses Extract and Tincture • Mountain Maple Solid Extract • Mullein Flowers • Myristaldehyde • Myristic Acid • Myrrh Oil • beta-Napthyl Ethyl Ether • Nerol • Neroli Bigarde Oil • Nerolidol • Nona-2-trans,6-cis-Dienal • 2,6-Nonadien-1-Ol • gamma-Nonalactone • Nonanal • Nonanoic Acid • Nonanone • trans-2-Nonen-1-Ol • 2-Nonenal • Nonyl Acetate • Nutmeg Powder and Oil • Oak Chips Extract and Oil • Oak Moss Absolute • 9,12-Octadecadienoic Acid (48%) And 9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic Acid (52%) • delta-Octalactone • gamma-Octalactone • Octanal • Octanoic Acid • 1-Octanol • 2-Octanone • 3-Octen-2-One • 1-Octen-3-Ol • 1-Octen-3-Yl Acetate • 2-Octenal • Octyl Isobutyrate • Oleic Acid • Olibanum Oil • Opoponax Oil And Gum • Orange Blossoms Water, Absolute, and Leaf Absolute • Orange Oil and Extract • Origanum Oil • Orris Concrete Oil and Root Extract • Palmarosa Oil • Palmitic Acid • Parsley Seed Oil • Patchouli Oil • omega-Pentadecalactone • 2,3-Pentanedione • 2-Pentanone • 4-Pentenoic Acid • 2-Pentylpyridine • Pepper Oil, Black And White • Peppermint Oil • Peruvian (Bois De Rose) Oil • Petitgrain Absolute, Mandarin Oil and Terpeneless Oil • alpha-Phellandrene • 2-Phenenthyl Acetate • Phenenthyl Alcohol • Phenethyl Butyrate • Phenethyl Cinnamate • Phenethyl Isobutyrate • Phenethyl Isovalerate • Phenethyl Phenylacetate • Phenethyl Salicylate • 1-Phenyl-1-Propanol • 3-Phenyl-1-Propanol • 2-Phenyl-2-Butenal • 4-Phenyl-3-Buten-2-Ol • 4-Phenyl-3-Buten-2-One • Phenylacetaldehyde • Phenylacetic Acid • 1-Phenylalanine • 3-Phenylpropionaldehyde • 3-Phenylpropionic Acid • 3-Phenylpropyl Acetate • 3-Phenylpropyl Cinnamate • 2-(3-Phenylpropyl)Tetrahydrofuran • Phosphoric Acid • Pimenta Leaf Oil • Pine Needle Oil, Pine Oil, Scotch • Pineapple Juice Concentrate • alpha-Pinene, beta-Pinene • D-Piperitone • Piperonal • Pipsissewa Leaf Extract • Plum Juice • Potassium Sorbate • 1-Proline • Propenylguaethol • Propionic Acid • Propyl Acetate • Propyl para-Hydroxybenzoate • Propylene Glycol • 3-Propylidenephthalide • Prune Juice and Concentrate • Pyridine • Pyroligneous Acid And Extract • Pyrrole • Pyruvic Acid • Raisin Juice Concentrate • Rhodinol • Rose Absolute and Oil • Rosemary Oil • Rum • Rum Ether • Rye Extract • Sage, Sage Oil, and Sage Oleoresin • Salicylaldehyde • Sandalwood Oil, Yellow • Sclareolide • Skatole • Smoke Flavor • Snakeroot Oil • Sodium Acetate • Sodium Benzoate • Sodium Bicarbonate • Sodium Carbonate • Sodium Chloride • Sodium Citrate • Sodium Hydroxide • Solanone • Spearmint Oil • Styrax Extract, Gum and Oil • Sucrose Octaacetate • Sugar Alcohols • Sugars • Tagetes Oil • Tannic Acid • Tartaric Acid • Tea Leaf and Absolute • alpha-Terpineol • Terpinolene • Terpinyl Acetate • 5,6,7,8-Tetrahydroquinoxaline • 1,5,5,9-Tetramethyl-13-Oxatricyclo(8.3.0.0(4,9))Tridecane • 2,3,4,5, and 3,4,5,6- Tetramethylethyl-Cyclohexanone • 2,3,5,6-Tetramethylpyrazine • Thiamine Hydrochloride • Thiazole • 1-Threonine • Thyme Oil, White and Red • Thymol • Tobacco Extracts • Tochopherols (mixed) • Tolu Balsam Gum and Extract • Tolualdehydes • para-Tolyl 3-Methylbutyrate • para-Tolyl Acetaldehyde • para-Tolyl Acetate • para-Tolyl Isobutyrate • para-Tolyl Phenylacetate • Triacetin • 2-Tridecanone • 2-Tridecenal • Triethyl Citrate • 3,5,5-Trimethyl -1-Hexanol • para,alpha,alpha-Trimethylbenzyl Alcohol • 4-(2,6,6-Trimethylcyclohex-1- Enyl)But-2-En-4-One • 2,6,6-Trimethylcyclohex-2- Ene-1,4-Dione • 2,6,6-Trimethylcyclohexa-1, 3-Dienyl Methan • 4-(2,6,6-Trimethylcyclohexa-1, 3-Dienyl)But-2-En-4-One • 2,2,6-Trimethylcyclohexanone • 2,3,5-Trimethylpyrazine • 1-Tyrosine • delta-Undercalactone • gamma-Undecalactone • Undecanal • 2-Undecanone, 1 • 0-Undecenal • Urea • Valencene • Valeraldehyde • Valerian Root Extract, Oil and Powder • Valeric Acid • gamma-Valerolactone • Valine • Vanilla Extract And Oleoresin • Vanillin • Veratraldehyde • Vetiver Oil • Vinegar • Violet Leaf Absolute • Walnut Hull Extract • Water • Wheat Extract And Flour • Wild Cherry Bark Extract • Wine and Wine Sherry • Xanthan Gum • 3,4-Xylenol • Yeast |
Makes my lungs hurt just reading it.
Nicotine gum.
The Patch.
Nicotine Inhaler.
Cold Turkey.
Bupropion (Zyban)
Chantix.
...And I still went back to smoking. Here's a summary of available "approved" treatments for cigarette addiction:
Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT)
 INHALERS are the first hand-to-mouth delivery system for nicotine replacement therapy. Users simply inhale through the mouthpiece using deep or shallow puffs. Prescription only.Today, smokers don’t have to tough it out alone. New medications, some over-the-counter and some prescription, can help take the edge off of nicotine withdrawal. The first thing to do is discuss the various methods with your doctor, to determine which method might work best for you.  NICOTINE GUM is a temporary aid that takes the edge off the craving without the intake of tars and poisonous gases. Prescription and over-the-counter. |  THE PATCH helps relieve withdrawal symptoms by providing you with a steady amount of nicotine while avoiding the hazards of smoking. With the patch, you will step down your dosing until you no longer crave nicotine. Prescription and over-the-counter. THE LOZENGE is a form of hard candy that releases nicotine as it slowly dissolves in the mouth. The lozenge will help to reduce nicotine cravings. You can buy it without a prescription. NICOTINE SPRAY delivers nicotine the fastest, so is good at reducing sudden cravings. Prescription only. |
Reference: New York State Department of Health
| |
Non-Nicotine Replacement Therapy Drugs and by Prescription Only
| |
 ZYBAN is a non-nicotine pill which reduces craving for Nicotine.• Bupropion hydrochloride (Zyban) was approved in 1997 to help smokers quit. The drug, available by prescription only, is also sold as an antidepressant under the name Wellbutrin.• Common side effects include insomnia and dry mouth. • Treatment with bupropion begins while the user is still smoking, one week prior to the quit date. Treatment is then continued for 7 to 12 weeks. Length of treatment is individualized. • Dosing should begin at 150 mg/day given every day for the first 3 days, followed by a dose increase for most people to the recommended dose of 300 mg/day. The maximum recommended dose is 300 mg/day, given as 150 mg twice daily. An interval of at least 8 hours between successive doses is advised. • People who have not made significant progress towards abstinence by the seventh week of therapy are unlikely to successfully quit during this attempt, and bupropion treatment should be discontinued. • The average wholesale price for bupropion is approximately $2.50 per day. |  CHANTIX(verenicline)TabletsThe newest drug approved by the FDA. Not available until August, 2006.Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Treatment with Chantix begins one week (7days) before your quit date. This allows Chantix build up in your body. You can keep smoking during this time. Make sure that you try to stop smoking on your quit date. Take Chantix after eating and with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. Treatment is up to twelve weeks. If you have completely quit smoking by twelve weeks, ask your doctor if another twelve weeks of Chantix may help you stay cigarette-free. For the first three days you begin with one white tablet (0.5 mg) each day. Then from days four to seven you take the white tablet (0.5 mg) twice a day- one in the morning and one in the evening. From day eight to the end of the treatment you take the blue tablet (1mg) twice a day- one in the morning and one in the evening. Dosing may change based on a doctor’s opinion referring to your side effects. Prescription only. For more information visit www.chantix.com |
I had pretty much exhausted my options for "Approved Treatments" and was ready to concede defeat. So, when friends told me that they no longer smoked, I was all ears. They were using e-cigarettes. For those of you that are unfamiliar with e-cigarettes, here's a short intro:
 |
After researching different brands, models, and suppliers, I chose the JOYE 510 starter kit for about $40 and added a 30 ml bottle of menthol nicotine liquid for a total of about $50 from eSmokeClub. Their 510 starter kits are compatible Joye 510 products and are not made by Joyetech, but are well made, less expensive, and have given me no problems so far. Shipping is free for orders over $20, and my package arrived in 4 days. I also purchased a Joyetech-made 510 kit from Nicotine Nirvana. Their prices are only a bit higher, but they are genuine Joyetech, and have free shipping with no minimum, and my orders arrive in 3 days.
So, what's it like, "smoking" an e-cigarette? It's NOT smoke; it's vapor. It takes some getting used to - if you're expecting it to be like a traditional cigarette, you will be disappointed. It draws harder, tastes different, and takes longer to absorb the nicotine into your system. But after a day nor two, I was down to only one real cigarette a day: the morning smoke. After that first week, I've had maybe 3 cigarettes in the 2nd week and none in the third. I still get the urge to go buy a pack and ruin my quit, but if I stop and have a short "vaping" session with my 510, the urge fades. As the one month mark approaches, it's been about as long as my longest previous attempt to give up smoking. I plan to decrease the strength of the liquid over time until I am using liquid with no nicotine. But I figure, even if I keep using e-cigarettes instead of smoking, I'm still better off financially, and in terms of my health.
Financially, it costs about $180 a month to smoke cigarettes. Cost for the first month of using e-cigarettes or "vaporising" aka "vaping" has cost me about $100. I bought a second kit just so I have spare parts, and the nicotine liquid and replacement parts will run me about $20 a month after that. About half the price of smoking for the first 2 months, and a saving of $160 a month every month after that. And this doesn't include the "other" hidden costs of cigarette smoking: Health, lighters, ashtrays, burn holes, nasty looks from my non-smoking wife...
As for how I feel, well - "Damn it, Jim, I'm a blogger, not a doctor!" but I can tell you I feel better. I sleep and breath better. I've got my sense of smell and taste back. I realize this is completely unscientific, but after 3+ weeks off the real cigarettes and their toxic brew of additives, I've got more energy, too.
Below is a segment from "The Doctors" syndicated TV program discussing the health aspects of e-cigarettes.
So, If you're a smoker trying to quit, give it a try. I would check the forum first and get advice and answers to any questions you have. You can find it here: http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/ . Then find a vendor and place an order for a starter kit - make sure it has 2 complete e-cigarettes and charger. Don't forget a bottle of e-liquid to get you started.
I am providing links to vendors at the end of this post. I will list ONLY vendors I have actually used.
Disclosure: I am compensated for some of these links.
Good luck!
WARNING!
You must be 18 years old to purchase and/or use electronic cigarettes. These products are not marketed as smoking cessation or "stop smoking" products, nor are they to be marketed or used as drug delivery products. They are not meant to treat or cure any diseases or illnesses. We do not claim that these products are healthy or healthier than real cigarettes, rather they are considered only to be an alternative to real cigarettes. Nicotine is a poison and can cause dangerous increases in heart rate and blood pressure. Nicotine should not be used by individuals with hypertension or heart disease or who are nursing or pregnant. Consult your doctor before using any of these products. Keep all nicotine cartridges, nicotine liquids, and all other electronic cigarette components away from children at all times.
 |
No comments:
Post a Comment