E-Cigarettes, being hailed as the smoker's smart choice

Ivan Seeking

http://www.ecigaretteschoice.com/

GeorginaS

What's the question?

Ivan Seeking

Are they safe? Do they work? Is this better than smoking regular cigarettes? Are the claims made, factual?

Do we have any smokers who have tried these? If so, what did you think?

Doug Huffman

Nicotine itself and in pharmaceutical doses is not particularly hazardous. Cigarettes 'toxicity' is from the combustion by-products.

fuzzyfelt

My computer is playing up and I don't see the link, but think some friends use those, but are still compelled to use them out-doors.

Newai

Did you review the FDA study? They link to it at the bottom of this page:
http://www.ecigaretteschoice.com/new...igarettes.html

Direct link to the pub:
http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/S.../UCM173250.pdf

Greg Bernhardt

Here is a recent article from CNN.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/HEALTH/02/08/e.cigarette/

Burnsys

Just take a look at all the comments in the article!

Moonbear

I guess there are two important issues.

First, is the vapor they produce really free of nicotine and other harmful smoke substances so that the users of these are avoiding subjecting others to second-hand smoke.

Second, especially in light of the CNN article suggesting they aren't delivering the same amount of nicotine as a cigarette, is whether the people using them are sufficiently able to convince themselves that they feel enough like holding a cigarette to help them break their habit. There are plenty of ex-smokers who will report that a hard thing to give up was having something to hold in their hand or put in their mouth even after they're weaned from the nicotine.

chayced

I switched to electronic cigarettes and am very happy. The comment that they don't deliver nicotine is just plain false. Nicotine liquid comes in varied strengths and it is quite easy to tell the difference between an 18 mg liquid and a 0mg liquid. Now, is it the same amount of nicotine as a cigarette? I don't know, but it is certainly enough to satisfy my cravings.

As to the safety aspect, yes the FDA did find several carcinogens in the nicotine liquid they tested, but any nicotine from tobacco is going to also contain trace amounts of the other carcinogens in tobacco. This is the same as any other nicotine product such as gum or the patch.The FDA did also find 1% Diethylene glycol in one of the cartridges sampled. Call it a quality control issue, these things are made in china. Also considering the largest e-cigarette cartridges contain about 1ml liquid and probable lethal dose is .5-5g/kg, the amount is trivial.

In conclusion I have seen nothing showing electronic cigarettes to be worse than the real alternative, and have been quite happy with my health improvements since switching. I just wish the misinformation about them would end. I get tired of hearing that they are made with antifreeze.

Pythagorean

I am a quitter of 5-6 months. E-cigarettes (well, any substitution really) just didn't do it for me. It kept me addicted is what it did. E-cigarettes scared me though...

No, I don't think the vapor is free of nicotine (I don't know how it could be). It doesn't go as far as cigarettes before condensing though. Is that really a good thing, though? It doesn't just disappear from the area, it just becomes invisible faster. Besides, something about inhaling glycol vapors reminds me of anti-freeze. Terrible idea.

I think all this does is drag out the habit and addiction. I'm in the "Easy Quit Method" school of thought (it's a book by Allen Car). No substitutions, no weening, no loose associations hanging around to keep you in your comfort zone. You have to step out, be adventurous, and change your habits, essentially changing a part of who you are.

As far as I'm concerned, E-cigarettes are just another addictive product on the market.

AlephZero

I guess that depends how you define "safe". http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-18728303

leroyjenkens

I had some friends who switched to the E-cigarettes, and then eventually switched back to normal cigarettes because they weren't satisfying their craving for nicotine, or something like that. Maybe that was just an excuse for being too lazy to recharge the battery, or whatever you have to do with these things.

I don't see how anyone could smoke anyway. If you want to quit, then do it cold turkey. Sure, it's not pleasant, but that's life. If you want to get anything done, you have to endure some unpleasant moments.

dlgoff

That's how I did it after 30 years. The funny thing is, after I made up my mind, it was easy.

Chronos

As a reformed smoker, I can definitely relate to the 'what to do with your hands?' thing. Giving up the ritual of smoking was more stressful than the nicotine fix