To Those Of You Who Have Been Trying To Quit Smoking....

I asked about e-cigarettes a couple of months ago: Has anybody tried an electronic cigarette?, but got few replies.

I've been using them since the end of January, and have gone from a carton of cigarettes a week, meaning 190 cigarettes, to less than a pack and a half a week, i.e., no more than 3 or 4 cigarettes a day. That's an 85% drop in cigarette consumption.

It's debatable whether e-cigarettes aren't harmful, because you're still consuming nicotine, but they've definitely got far, far fewer harmful substances than tobacco cigarettes.

I've been smoking for 36 years, and find it unbelievable that my smoker's cough has completely disappeared, and tobacco just tastes worse and worse to me. My original goal was to cut my cigarette consumption by half in about 6 months, but that happened the first day.

If anybody is interested, I'd definitely recommend they check out e-cigarette forums before investing in an e-cig that might be overpriced and ineffective. There's a large assortment of models (and prices) out there, each with their own advantages and disadvantages as far as battery life, cartridge size, throat hit vs. flavor, etc., are concerned, and what works for one person might not for another. A great number of people say to avoid a certain e-cig named after a color, though.

Very interesting. They didn't have anything like this when I quit in 1978. I am glad to hear that it is helping some folks though. I don't think there is any question anymore about the effects of tobacco on a persons body. Congrats to all those who are quitting or even smoking less. You will be glad you did this for yourself.

Thanks to God I´m not a smoker....
But is a great advice...

Was just going to post about this myself, and then came across this thread.

A friend of mine started using e-cigarettes about 2 months ago at the recommendation of a friend; he completely cut out the "real" cigarettes within 3 days, and hasn't looked back. So he passed the info along to the rest of my "crew," and last week, another friend ordered me one of my own as a late birthday present.

I am a 2+ pack-a-day smoker, and I have had 2 cigarettes since the thing arrived on Monday. I don't really expect to have another one at this point. They really do "replace" cigarettes very well, and the difference in "healthiness" is undeniable (although it is important to realize that nicotine itself is still a carcinogen, so it's still not a completely "healthy" thing...just much healthIER, as it doesn't contain all the additional chemical additives of a traditional cigarette).

The important thing to note is that this is not just a great thing for people trying to QUIT...you can use them in place of your traditional cigarettes if you're just not ready to take that step, but want a healthier lifestyle for both you and those you share your home with. They are especially great for those of us who (a) have pets/kids, and/or (b) live in a house with nonsmokers...there is no odor (because there is no smoke!), and no second-hand smoke; just water vapor. They are also SIGNIFICANTLY less expensive...a carton of cigarettes in Pittsburgh cost me about $60 (and I went through a carton a week, so over $240 per month)...a 1 oz bottle of the e-liquid costs anywhere from $10-15 and lasts well over a month.

One major caution for those with pets (I'd assume that's all of us here, lol) or kids: The nicotine "e-liquid" is still quite toxic, so it's important that it be kept far away from curious kitties and children. I keep my e-liquid refills locked up in a cabinet, and wash my hands thoroughly after changing them out; the e-cig itself is kept shut in a drawer when it's not actually in my hand/in use. Basically the same cautions you'd use to keep your kids and pets away from your regular cigarettes.

If anyone else is interested in trying this, please don't hesitate to PM me. My friends and I have done a LOT of research into the different products and suppliers, and I can give you more information and links to different resources, along with suggestions as to the best companies/suppliers for both the e-cigs themselves, and the "e-liquid" used in place of tobacco.

Originally Posted by at129

One major caution for those with pets (I'd assume that's all of us here, lol) or kids: The nicotine "e-liquid" is still quite toxic, so it's important that it be kept far away from curious kitties and children. I keep my e-liquid refills locked up in a cabinet, and wash my hands thoroughly after changing them out; the e-cig itself is kept shut in a drawer when it's not actually in my hand/in use. Basically the same cautions you'd use to keep your kids and pets away from your regular cigarettes.

Click to expand...

That can't be stressed enough. I keep my e-liquids and other paraphernalia in a lockable tool case (which actually looks like a cosmetic case); a lot of other vapers use tackle boxes.

Research is imperative, since there are a few suppliers who seem to merely be interested in ripping people off, while others have great customer service and prices. Luckily there are a number of forums with discussions, tips and reviews.

If anyone wants some info on reasonably-priced European suppliers of hardware and liquids, I'm a PM away.