On March 27, 2009, I made a decision that I was going to stop smoking. I had made that decision many times before. Each time that I did stop--on two occasions for as long as six months--not a day went by without fighting to overcome strong urges to start smoking again. Not a day went by without feeling miserable and sick.
The difference this time was that I did not give up nicotine. Well, I did, but only for two days, and that was part of the plan. I knew from past experience that without nicotine I was going to feel groggy, so I picked a weekend and pretty much stayed in bed for two days. On day three, I picked up my njoy NPRO and ignored the 19 unopened packs of American Spirit cigarettes. Those packs remain unopened.
Using my electronic cigarette took care of any urges that I had back then to smoke, and in a short while I found that I no longer had any desire whatsoever to smoke, even when standing among a group of people smoking.
There were some adjustments required. I was having troubles concentrating as well as I had when smoking and knew this was due to the reduced amount of nicotine I was taking in. I learned how to refill my own cartridges and opted for a higher nicotine strength in my liquid (2.4%). On the advice of fellow ECF members, I switched to a Joye 510 and was rewarded with better vapor production. A few months ago I switched to an eGo and love it.
Even more, I love the friendships I have made here on ECF and being part of something much larger than myself -- taking action to make sure that this wonderful tool remains available. When I first joined ECF, I had no idea that our wonderful government has been lying to smokers for decades.
"This product is not a safe alternative to cigarettes," is an intentionally misleading statement. Nothing is 100% safe, so the statement, taken at face value, is not untrue. But it doesn't tell the whole truth: Most smokeless tobacco products reduce your risks of smoking-related disease by at least 90%. The more modern products are 99% safer than smoking.
Late in 2009 I was elected to the board of directors of a newly formed oranization that ECF members decided to name Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association. We got off to a rocky start, but eventully pulled together and we are picking up steam. CASAA is becoming a force to be reckoned with by the folks we call the "antis."
Who are the antis? Well, you would think that the groups that have been hounding you for years to stop smoking would be in favor of a tool that is so effective for so many smokers. Your thinking would be wrong. The antis include the American Lung Association, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Campaign for tobacco-free Kids, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), the American Medical Association, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and many more.
Why are they so against e-cigarettes? With some, it is a "moral" question. They believe that anything addictive is wrong. So they want you to stop smoking by giving up nicotine. If you are still using nicotine, you are still a "smoker" in their book. Naturally, this group is staunchly opposed to any form of tobacco, but they also oppose long-term use of FDA-approved nicotine products.
With others, we suspect there is a financial incentive. The pharmaceutical companies that manufacture the smoking cessation aids that you tried and failed with countless times all contribute heavily to the non-profit orgnizations named above. Employees of the FDA, CDC, and other health-oriented agencies under HHS often end up working for these pharmaceutical companies.
Whatever their motivation, they are deceivers, and CASAA works to bring their misrepresentations and partial truths into the light. I am proud to be CASAA.
The difference this time was that I did not give up nicotine. Well, I did, but only for two days, and that was part of the plan. I knew from past experience that without nicotine I was going to feel groggy, so I picked a weekend and pretty much stayed in bed for two days. On day three, I picked up my njoy NPRO and ignored the 19 unopened packs of American Spirit cigarettes. Those packs remain unopened.
Using my electronic cigarette took care of any urges that I had back then to smoke, and in a short while I found that I no longer had any desire whatsoever to smoke, even when standing among a group of people smoking.
There were some adjustments required. I was having troubles concentrating as well as I had when smoking and knew this was due to the reduced amount of nicotine I was taking in. I learned how to refill my own cartridges and opted for a higher nicotine strength in my liquid (2.4%). On the advice of fellow ECF members, I switched to a Joye 510 and was rewarded with better vapor production. A few months ago I switched to an eGo and love it.
Even more, I love the friendships I have made here on ECF and being part of something much larger than myself -- taking action to make sure that this wonderful tool remains available. When I first joined ECF, I had no idea that our wonderful government has been lying to smokers for decades.
"This product is not a safe alternative to cigarettes," is an intentionally misleading statement. Nothing is 100% safe, so the statement, taken at face value, is not untrue. But it doesn't tell the whole truth: Most smokeless tobacco products reduce your risks of smoking-related disease by at least 90%. The more modern products are 99% safer than smoking.
Late in 2009 I was elected to the board of directors of a newly formed oranization that ECF members decided to name Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association. We got off to a rocky start, but eventully pulled together and we are picking up steam. CASAA is becoming a force to be reckoned with by the folks we call the "antis."
Who are the antis? Well, you would think that the groups that have been hounding you for years to stop smoking would be in favor of a tool that is so effective for so many smokers. Your thinking would be wrong. The antis include the American Lung Association, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, Campaign for tobacco-free Kids, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), the American Medical Association, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and many more.
Why are they so against e-cigarettes? With some, it is a "moral" question. They believe that anything addictive is wrong. So they want you to stop smoking by giving up nicotine. If you are still using nicotine, you are still a "smoker" in their book. Naturally, this group is staunchly opposed to any form of tobacco, but they also oppose long-term use of FDA-approved nicotine products.
With others, we suspect there is a financial incentive. The pharmaceutical companies that manufacture the smoking cessation aids that you tried and failed with countless times all contribute heavily to the non-profit orgnizations named above. Employees of the FDA, CDC, and other health-oriented agencies under HHS often end up working for these pharmaceutical companies.
Whatever their motivation, they are deceivers, and CASAA works to bring their misrepresentations and partial truths into the light. I am proud to be CASAA.
