Smoking, Vaping, and addiction.

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Lonely Raven

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Lots of great advice here.

I can't stress enough to stay hydrated. I'm partial to sports drinks with low carbs. PV/VG will dry you out and make you feel head-achy if you aren't careful. Hydrate, then Hydrate some more.

Also, try some more of the "boutique" eJucies - I've found Alice in Vapeland to be very smooth, high quality juice.
https://aliceinvapeland.com/
When I need something a little "stronger", I reach for Grenada I picked up from:
Elevated Vaping

Seriously, some of the cheap stuff my friends vape taste like vaping a scented dry erase marker. Bleck!
 
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Bill's Magic Vapor

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I know little about vaping. I am so new to this that I am in a constant struggle with trying to figure out what works best for me as far as Nicotine percentage. As a smoker, I could chain smoke (especially if very stressed) one after another and feel no ill effects. If I do it with vaping, even with 6mg, it can make me feel ill after awhile.

I am a addict. I'm a recovering alcoholic, and am wired in the brain as such. Addiction is a disease, regardless of how dangerous the vice is. I want vaping to work, but it's a real struggle sometimes as far as craving for a cigarette. I cannot afford to keep buying juices to see which one make me not feel ill.

Any suggestions? I apologize for sounding needy. I really picked a wrong time to quit smoking going through a divorce right now.

Two words: Sampler Packs. MyFreedomSmokes has some, but there are many good juice vendors. Also, strong juice to start. The addiction to nicotine will lessen over time due to differences in mechanism of action and behavioral reinforcement response. If you keep vaping, you will beat smoking. It takes what it takes. YOU CAN DO IT. Thousands of us had the same problem. You are not different. It will work for you, BECAUSE IT WORKED FOR US. I don't think I have ever met anyone MORE addictive than me. Everyone I know believes that, and I did it. 3 PAD, 35 years, plus other stuff. More than 5 months smoke free. Bless us all! Good luck, keep up the good work, Power Up and Vape On!!!
 

hmorphone

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I'm in very similar circumstances. I have to agree that it sounds like its probably not the nicotine, it's probably the flavoring or the PG/VG. My money would be on the PG. If I were you I would be inclined to try 100% VG ejuice and then if that didn't work, unflavored ejuice.

I'm still smoking some analogs every day and I'm using 24mg, 24mg with WTA, and 36mg juice with no nicotine od symptoms. I find the WTA to be a big help, but it is pricier than regular juice and as been said it's probably better not to use it if you don't have a need.

It boggles my mind that someone would suggest a recovering alcoholic add vodka to his juice...
 

glowplug

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See if there are any brick and mortar stores in your area. I have found great help there. One store here has clearos set up with all their flavors and they give you a "friend tip" so you can just screw it on you battery and try every flavor. It is fun! I would guess they would lend you a battery if you were in the buying frame of mind when you went in. The other store, my favorite, will drip a few in a carto and let you try any flavor they have. They will also take a lot of time explaining everything. Heck they even have a special line for "newbies" and it's all about education and getting something that is right for you. I can't believe these two stores are that unusual. I have found that all the vapers I meet just love to share the joy.
 

gando_salo

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I have posted this before but I will again. Hope it helps..

E-Liquid vs Cigarette

One of the most common questions about an electric cig relates to which e-liquid nicotine strength is equivalent to a particular kind of cigarette that a person smokes. To better answer this question, it is better to understand how much nicotine is contained in the E-Liquid you are inhaling.

We define the density of nicotine inside E-Liquid as the followings:
- Non nicotine: 0 mg nicotine, which equivalents to No Nicotine.
- Low density: 6 mg nicotine, which equivalents to Ultra Light Strength Cigarettes.
- Medium density: 12 mg nicotine, which equivalents to Medium Strength Cigarettes.
- High density: 18 mg nicotine, which equivalents to Regular Strength Cigarettes.
- XHigh density: 24 mg nicotine, which equivalents to Strong Cigarettes.
- XXHigh density: 36 mg nicotine, which equivalents to Very Strong Cigarettes.
- XXXHigh density: 48 mg nicotine, which equivalents to Super Strong Cigarettes.

The nicotine density listed for e-liquid is the number of milligrams of nicotine per milliliter in the E-Liquid. That means a 10ml bottle of 24mg nicotine e-liquid would have 240mg of nicotine in it (24mg x 10ml). Likewise, a 30ml bottle of 24mg e-liquid would have 720mg of nicotine in it (24mg x 30ml).
Different brands of cigarettes vary in terms of their nicotine content. Normally nicotine constitutes approximately 0.6-3.0% of dry weight of tobacco in a cigarette. Obviously a longer 100ml cigarette has more nicotine in it than a standard or king size 84ml cigarette. For the most part, though, here is, for example, the amount of nicotine that is in a typical 84ml tobacco cigarette:

If you smoke Regular cigarettes, like a Marlboro Red, for instance, there are approximately 1.2mg of nicotine in each cigarette, or 24mg of nicotine per pack (1.2mg x 20 cigarettes).

If you smoke Light cigarettes, like a Marlboro Light, for instance, there are approximately 0.7mg of nicotine in each cigarette, or 14mg of nicotine per pack (0.7mg x 20 cigarettes).

If you smoke Ultra Light cigarettes, like a Marlboro Ultra Light, for instance, there are approximately 0.5mg of nicotine in each cigarette, or 10mg of nicotine per pack (0.5mg x 20 cigarettes).

When you refill your e-cartridges with e-liquid, you may need to know how much nicotine is contained in your refilling e-liquid. There are approximately 20 drops of e-liquid per milliliter. So, using our 24mg nicotine e-liquid once again as an example, there would be 1.2mg of nicotine per drop (24mg/20 drops). So, if you put three drops of e-liquid onto a e-cartridge (or directly onto the atomizer for those of you that direct-drip), that means you will be taking in 3.6mg of nicotine from the time you start vaping until you top off again.

The amount as well as the feeling of the nicotine absorbed by the body from electronic cigarette smoking depends on many factors, including the density of the nicotine in e-liquid, the eclectronic cigarette vaporing quantity, the smoking frequency and timing, and the smoking inhaling respiration.

Actually the nicotine in the E-Liquid can not be absorbed completely by the smoker. For instance, if you inhale 1 ml of E-Liquid which contains 24 mg of nicotine, that does not mean that you absorb all the 24 mg of nicotine. You may only absorb about 40-65% of the nicotine according to your personal smoking habit.

It should be noted that, although it is highly addictive, no studies have shown nicotine to be a carcinogen. It is simply the fix that cigarette smokers crave. It is recommended that those who have a demonstrated sensitivity to nicotine, are pregnant or breastfeeding or who have unstable heart conditions, should discuss the use of any E-Liquid with a doctor before using.
 

Taltos

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Hey Signal30! I'm a friend of Bill's as well and had a few other substances that had to stop too. I understand what you mean. We don't have a corner on the All or Nothing thing but do tend to be much more prone to that.

You've had a lot of good suggestions here. This could be a few things, PG issues, VG issues, flavor issues, or nic level issues.

Caridwen mentioned the flavor issue and I know I have a watermelon flavor that I love. But if I vape it too much or early in the morning then it makes me feel a little queasy or sometimes feels a bit like nasty heartburn. No other flavor, so far, does that to me.

Lay it out step by step and eliminate one variable at a time. Find a juice that is all PG and try it. Find a juice that is all VG and try it. You will have to probably buy a sample or a 10 ml bottle as you will need to try these for a day or more. See how you feel. Try different nic levels. Try unflavored or a very different flavor juice. Try not to bounce from one of these to the other and get it all tried in one day.

You know the saying...Easy does it :D If you want it to work then it will. Good luck!
 

glowplug

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I'm not an addict. I have never ruined my life or another's ove smoking. I am dependent on nicotine. I refuse to give myself an incredibly negative label like "I am an addict". :)

Take it slow. There is a learning curve. You will find that vaping is more fun than smoking, IMHO. There are different flavors to try and different PVs available.

I like to vape 24 mg in the mornings and then switch down to 18mg in the afternoons. In the evenings I vary it but if I am chain vaping then I go with a lower mg.

Best of luck to you and congrats on trying vaping. I know I feel a lot healthier.

I understand your point. Not everyone is an addict. Dependency is a part of addiction, but I believe addiction is much more than dependency. I am an addict. I can get addicted to just about anything and sometimes do. I am a friend of Bill with 29 years clean and sober. I almost lost my home and my marriage when I became addicted to gambling. I am addicted to stress, work, food and now vaping. I can handle the addiction to vaping! I am not trying to quit that, but I have pulled in the reins on my spending. No more for a month or so (well, maybe just a wee little bit on a new juice, but no more hardware for a while).

I don't see labeling myself as an addict as a negative thing, nor do I see it as giving my addiction power. I use the term addict because it fits and defines my problem. It also tells me what I need to do to solve that problem. I have the tools to fight addiction. This is just a different frame of reference, Renolizzie. Not a criticism.

I know I am addicted to cigarettes. If I smoke one or two, I am very soon back at the 1.5 ppd status as before I stopped smoking. They do give a different rush than vaping. I do have to exercise some control to grab my PV instead of a pack of cigs (sometimes anyway. other times there is no temptation to smoke). I choose to remain drug/etoh/analog/video poker free today. That is how I solve the problem of my addictions. I am not only proud to admit my recovery from addictions, I am happy as a clam to have found my recovery solution and can't imagine living any other way. I am "trudging the road of happy destiny"!
 

glowplug

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Thanks Lizzie! I am grateful, happy and clean. I know there are lots of ways to view this whole situation. Have been a therapist for over 30 years in my lifetime. I am even a Rational Emotive Therapist if it will help the client. The word addiction was just not spoken in that milieu! Whatever works for a person is A-OK with me!
 

wv2win

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I have posted this before but I will again. Hope it helps..

E-Liquid vs Cigarette

One of the most common questions about an electric cig relates to which e-liquid nicotine strength is equivalent to a particular kind of cigarette that a person smokes. To better answer this question, it is better to understand how much nicotine is contained in the E-Liquid you are inhaling.

We define the density of nicotine inside E-Liquid as the followings:
- Non nicotine: 0 mg nicotine, which equivalents to No Nicotine.
- Low density: 6 mg nicotine, which equivalents to Ultra Light Strength Cigarettes.
- Medium density: 12 mg nicotine, which equivalents to Medium Strength Cigarettes.
- High density: 18 mg nicotine, which equivalents to Regular Strength Cigarettes.
- XHigh density: 24 mg nicotine, which equivalents to Strong Cigarettes.
- XXHigh density: 36 mg nicotine, which equivalents to Very Strong Cigarettes.
- XXXHigh density: 48 mg nicotine, which equivalents to Super Strong Cigarettes.................................


It should be noted that, although it is highly addictive, no studies have shown nicotine to be a carcinogen. It is simply the fix that cigarette smokers crave. It is recommended that those who have a demonstrated sensitivity to nicotine, are pregnant or breastfeeding or who have unstable heart conditions, should discuss the use of any E-Liquid with a doctor before using.

Since vaping is less efficient in getting nicotine into your system than smoking, I don't see much value in your chart. And it also does not explain why some light analog smokers need 24+mg nicotine strength eliquid to stay off the analogs.

And this new study just released has come to a different conclusion about addiction and nicotine:

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-not-addictive-according-recent-research.html
 
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congpert2

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