So do you consider yourself a "smoker"?

[flintlock62]

I am no longer a smoker, and I'm proud of it. I vape now, thank you!
As others have said, the process does not turn the liquid into smoke, it turns into vapor.

 

[dnakr]

I have been vaping since Dec. 2007. Do I consider myself a smoker? No... Am I addicted to nicotine? Yes... I think there is a very big difference between lighting up a cigarette and vaping.

Even though long term or even short term studies have not been done, each of us have experienced our own benefit of better health with vaping.

I agree with JENerationX, if we cannot consider ourselves as non-smokers, how can the rest of the people? We can put ourselves in the same category as the nicotine replacement group, but not in the smokers group.

 

[Black Strat]

I am a non smoker! Vaping and smoking are radically different, in my mind. The only thing in common is the nicotine addiction.

 

[hifistud]

So where exactly is the "smoke" in e-cigs? I thought it was vapor and about 8-10 other chemicals all of which are below the FDA levels of dangerous. So you are saying there is SMOKE in e-cigs and we are all still smokers correct?

No - does logic escape you? Would you stop calling someone who had switched from smoking H. to injecting H. a junky? Bottom line, I'm still doing what I was - inhaling nicotine - the only thing that's changed is the substrate on which it rides.

 

[jpargana]

No - does logic escape you? Would you stop calling someone who had switched from smoking H. to injecting H. a junky? Bottom line, I'm still doing what I was - inhaling nicotine - the only thing that's changed is the substrate on which it rides.

While I can see your point, I beg to differ... an alchool addict is called an alchoolic... the alchool is the real problem, not the other components of beverages. Inhaling nicotine (whatever the method) would turn us into 'nicotine addicts'... however, we are (were) not called that... we were called smokers. The main focus is on smoke, not nicotine. Smoke was killing us, not nicotine. So, if I switch to a smokeless alternative to tobacco, is it fair (or even accurate) to call me a smoker ? What's the rationale here ? Is non-alchoolic beer considered 'booze' ? Why then should we be considered smokers? On my last doctor appointment, I was asked if I was a smoker, to fill in a field named 'How many cigarrettes a day?' I neither said yes or no, just stated that i had been using the e-cig a year and an half ago (back then). The doctor just nodded her head, seemingly happy, and filled that box with a big, round zero ! Can you be a smoker by smoking zero cigarettes a day? To an informed doctor, smoke (not nicotine) is the real issue...

 

[kwalka]

This whole nicotine ingestion makes you a smoker is silly. Is an ex-smoker who uses the patch or gum, and therefore has nicotine in their system, considered a smoker?

The substrate in which it rides on makes it by definition not a smoker. Logic???

 

[CommaHolly]

Same here.. I'm going on my first month without traditional tobacco and have had some issues with the stigma of being labeled as a 'non smoker'. Asked my wife her opinions and she's on board with the as soon as quit smoking tobacco but I'm more on the lines of a week or more just in case ya slip.

I believe many healthcare organizations/companies have a 6 month mark to where you can then change your Smoker to Non Smoker on your insurance/healthcare/etc. This would be the first big goal and after that point I would consider myself a true non smoker and not someone who's not smoked in several weeks/month.

Regardless, it's up to you and how you perceive yourself. If your dedicated to quitting then using the term, even among yourself and spouse/peers, you give yourself motivation to continue being that non smoker.

Of course, just my 2c

it was one year the last time I checked,,,,,,,,but recently, I was checking into more life insurance,,,,,and the question was "Have you used any nicotine product in the last year?"

NICOTINE PRODUCT???

SERIOUSLY???

I suppose you could say no if you were down to 0 nic,,,,,,,,but geezum.

 

[kwalka]

it was one year the last time I checked,,,,,,,,but recently, I was checking into more life insurance,,,,,and the question was "Have you used any nicotine product in the last year?"

NICOTINE PRODUCT???

SERIOUSLY???



I suppose you could say no if you were down to 0 nic,,,,,,,,but geezum.

This brings up another point arguing for regulation and testing. Vaping is not accepted yet in any category, so until it is, this is one more reason to get it mainstreamed.

 

[Kemosabe]

Apparently not, since I have asked my Insurance company about it and they stated no.
The amounts of nicotine showing up from a vaper that has been off of cigarettes for a certain amount of time has shown to be dramatically smaller than a smoker. So much so that it is hardly noticeable. I guess tests will vary depending on how it is done or who does it. It shouldn't but that is the medical system. The MG rating you are vaping will go into this also and I am assuming along with how often you vape in a day.
Regardless, I am a non-smoker/ex-smoker, whatever you want to call it. No insurance company will tell me different.

again i should have been more clear. there are lots of facets to life insurance. its possible that you have a policy that didnt require a blood test, but the policies that offer the most comprehensive coverages all require blood tests. every major insurance company's best policies all require blood tests.
its hard to believe the nicotine in vaping shows up differently on a blood test than smoking does, but ive got an open mind. especially because i *want* to believe that vaping shows up differently than smoking. have you actually done the test to see how much nicotine is in your system? not to mention that this plan is quite a gamble to take. the agent will ask you if you take any nicotine products. if you say no and it comes back that you do, not only will you not have any coverage, but you basically get blacklisted. lying on an insurance application is something that negatively affects you with any future insurance company for the rest of your life.
again, i want to believe that vaping shows up differently than smoking, but when it comes down to it, its a gamble if you want to take that risk: say you dont take nicotine, and hope and pray the blood test comes back in your favor. quite a gamble. unless of course you purchase a bare bones policy that requires no blood test.

 

[CommaHolly]

not to mention,,,,,I vape MORE than I smoked,,,,,,,,so even if the absorption rate is lower,,,,,,,,I might still have more nic in me

 

[flintlock62]

it was one year the last time I checked,,,,,,,,but recently, I was checking into more life insurance,,,,,and the question was "Have you used any nicotine product in the last year?"

NICOTINE PRODUCT???

SERIOUSLY???



I suppose you could say no if you were down to 0 nic,,,,,,,,but geezum.

So, if I go to the doctor and am asked if I use a nicotine product, I have to say yes if I eat green tomatoes, egg plant, or potatoes?

 

[CommaHolly]

So, if I go to the doctor and am asked if I use a nicotine product, I have to say yes if I eat green tomatoes, egg plant, or potatoes?

good one!!!! IDK, it was odd to me too! but it was for life insurance,,,,,,,,IYAM, anything to charge anyone more money.

 

[YKruss]

again, i want to believe that vaping shows up differently than smoking, but when it comes down to it, its a gamble if you want to take that risk: say you dont take nicotine, and hope and pray the blood test comes back in your favor. quite a gamble.

Kemosabe,

Here is a good post by Rolygate where he answered this question "Is there a nic level with vaping that is low enough to avoid a positive test result or is the test that sensitive?" - http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/legislation-news/336514-health-insurance-increase-tobacco-users-ecig-users-2.html#post7362498

The gist of that post is:

Blood plasma nicotine test and many urine cotinine tests are sensitive enough to show any nicotine or metabolytes (cotinine) present.

 

[DC2]

good one!!!! IDK, it was odd to me too! but it was for life insurance,,,,,,,,IYAM, anything to charge anyone more money.

The substitution of the word "nicotine" for "smoking" is happening more and more.
There are now many hospitals that will not hire "nicotine" users.

Expect this concept to continue to spread.

There are two things we need to do if we don't want to get steamrolled...
1) Realize that these changes are not an accident, they are part of a long-standing plan
2) Become outraged enough to get involved and help try and do something to change things

The very least you can do is educate the people who know that you vape.
But there is also so much more you can do, and my first suggestion is to join CASAA, which costs nothing.

And it all starts and ends with insisting that vaping is not, and never will be equivalent to smoking.

 

[cwolfman13]

There is no smoke...therefore, I don't consider myself to be a "smoker." It's only been a couple of weeks and I'm feeling better than anytime in the last 20 years. That said, I could see how some doctors, and particularly insurance companies would make no distinction. If you had to take a blood test for your health insurance or life insurance, the nicotine would show up and they would consider you a tobacco user of some kind and you'd get dinged for it to be sure.

 

[flintlock62]

The substitution of the word "nicotine" for "smoking" is happening more and more.
There are now many hospitals that will not hire "nicotine" users.

Expect this concept to continue to spread.

There are two things we need to do if we don't want to get steamrolled...
1) Realize that these changes are not an accident, they are part of a long-standing plan
2) Become outraged enough to get involved and help try and do something to change things

The very least you can do is educate the people who know that you vape.
But there is also so much more you can do, and my first suggestion is to join CASAA, which costs nothing.

And it all starts and ends with insisting that vaping is not, and never will be equivalent to smoking.

Nicotine stays in your system for 96 hours, so if one applies for a job that prohibits any form of nicotine, stay off it for at least that long.

 

[CommaHolly]

whats next? we can't eat oreos if we want to be hired by X company? Good lord.

 

[DC2]

whats next? we can't eat oreos if we want to be hired by X company? Good lord.

The denormalization of overweight people has already begun.
That is the first step in the same plan that was used against smokers.

The next steps are already being taken, for instance look at what is going on with school lunches.
And keep an eye on Mayor Bloomberg in New York for a preview of things to come.

 

[DC2]

By the way, if anyone wants to know what "plan" I'm talking about, google the Godber Blueprint.

 

[Kemosabe]

hey speaking of not calling vaping "smoking", maybe we should start with this very sub-forum. why in the world is it called General E-SMOKING Discussion???

anyone agree that it should be called General Vaping Discussion?