Kicking the Habit

Because nicotine is so addictive, the best way to avoid the trouble of trying to quit smoking or stop using e cigs is never to start.

If you smoke and want to quit, e cigarettes probably aren’t your best option. Using an e cigarette mimics the experience of smoking tobacco cigarettes more closely than other quitting options, like nicotine gum or patches. You don’t want to successfully give up smoking only to find you’re now hooked on e cigarettes.

If you’ve already tried using e cigs and think you might be getting dependent on nicotine, you’ll need to follow the same steps for quitting as you would with tobacco

  • Make a specific plan. Set a date to begin the quitting process. If you smoke cigarettes, try going cold turkey before relying on e cigarettes to help. If that doesn’t work, it’s time for a plan to wean yourself off nicotine. Make a specific goal, like using one less e cigarette each day for a week. Keep cutting back until you no longer smoke or vape.
  • Stay busy. Take your mind off cigarettes by exercising or doing something that involves your hands, like art, music, knitting, or woodworking. Stay aware of specific times and situations that make you want cigarettes (like at a party or after a meal), and come up with a plan to handle those times.
  • Delay giving in to a craving. When you crave a cigarette or e cig, put off giving in to the urge. It can be easier to tell yourself to “wait” than to tell yourself ‘”no.” Do something else to take your mind off the craving. Chances are, the urge will pass, and congratulations that means one less cigarette!
  • Keep focused on why you want to quit. Write down all the reasons you want to stop using cigarettes or e cigarettes, like the money you’ll save or the extra energy you’ll have. Keep the list where you can see it. Read it every day, even though you already know the reasons. Doing this helps your brain automatically remind you of a reason when you feel a strong craving.
  • Get support. Turn to your family or a trusted adult for moral support when you really want a cigarette. It also helps strengthen your resolve to tell other people that you are quitting. If you don’t want friends and family to know you smoke or use e cigs, join an online or in person support group. See if friends will join you in quitting. If not, ask them not to smoke or use e cigarettes in front of you.
  • Be good to yourself. Some people use e cigs to avoid harming friends and family with secondhand smoke. But you’re still hurting them by harming someone they love you. Be your own best friend and give yourself praise each time you avoid reaching for the e cigs.

Nicotine is an addictive drug. It’s almost never easy to quit using it once you’ve started. The best strategy is to never start in the first place. If it’s too late for that, remind yourself that it is possible to quit. Other people succeed, and so can you!

Reviewed by Elana Pearl Ben Joseph, MD
Date reviewed October 2013

E smoking 101: electronic cigarette reviews and beginner guide

is a site about electronic cigarettes. We have put together all the information you need to get started with e cigs. We are also reviewing the most popular brands on the market, we have tested out several brands, and will continue testing and publishing more reviews.

What is E Smoking?

E Smoking or electronic smoking is inhalation of nicotine in a vapor form by using an e cigarette. Electronic cigarettes are non flammable products that use state of the art micro electronic technology which provides smokers a real smoking experience without the fire, flame, tobacco, tar, carbon monoxide, ash, stub or smell found in real cigarettes. The smokers still get their nicotine, but don’t get any harmful side effects of smoking traditional cigarettes which contain real tobacco.

There are lots of different electronic cigarette brands out there, and not all electronic cigarettes are equal. Besides great brands there are sadly lots of low quality brands available. So, if you want to get yourself an electronic cigarette, first read e cigarette reviews.

How Does It Work?

The electronic version of a cigarette can look like a real cigarette. The mouthpiece contains a replaceable cartridge filled with liquid. The main substances contained in the liquid are nicotine and propylene glycol. A rechargeable battery is used as power source. When air flows through the device, it is detected by a microprocessor. The microprocessor then activates an atomizer which injects tiny droplets into the air flow. This results in a vapor mist which is inhaled by the user. The addition of propylene glycol to the liquid makes the mist better resemble normal cigarette smoke. It not only simulates cigarette smoke but also the temperature of common cigarette’s smoke.

Will it help me quit smoking?

E Smoking, is not a method of quitting smoking. But it can easily help you stop smoking cigarettes, by replacing these with e cigs. E smoking is probably best described as an alternative nicotine delivery system.

How Much Does It Cost?

As starter kit can cost from $30 $120 dollars (you do get what you pay for), there is also an ongoing cost of additional consumables of perhaps $10 15 a week. This means that if you are even only a moderate smoker, you can expect to save money too.

Is it Harmful?

Initial studies indicate that it is considerably less harmful than cigarette smoking. Common sense tells you that not inhaling all the junk you get from burning tobacco is very beneficial to your e cigarette is the healthy alternative for the old fashion cigarette. Because atomization does not produce the particulate matter which results from the burning of plant material, there is no no tar, no carbon monoxide, and no ash. You will get the real tobacco taste, without any unhealthy addition. There are cartridges available for normal nicotine value, but also for less or no nicotine.

No less important, an e cigarette is also healthy for the people around you. Keeps your house clean. And maybe your partner will be more willing to kiss you, because there will be no cigarette smell afterwards.

Which Electronic Cigarette Should I Buy?

Many people start on an electronic cigarette that looks like a cigarette (those that use e cigs refer to tobacco cigarettes as ‘analogs’). It seems to help with the initial psycological aspect of moving from tobacco cigarettes to e cigs. It is certainly the case that the latest models of e cigs are very close to replicating cigarette tobacco smoking. Our recommendation would be to get yourself either V2 Cigs or Green Smoke. These are the brands we personally like the best, because they taste great, produce lots of vapor, and have a good battery. But surely read the electronic cigarette reviews of other brands as well, maybe there’s a product out there more suitable for you.

More questions? Read the FAQ section to find out everything about e cigarettes.