The Cessation Claim

[Jman8]

Was thinking yesterday about the cessation claim of smokers to vapers. I'm not one that has ceased smoking, but am one who has cut so far back that when anyone asks me "are you a smoker," I hesitate for a good 5 seconds and usually respond with, "I'm a happy moderate smoker. Haven't had a smoke in x amount of days."

Anyway, yesterday I was thinking about the many vapers on forums who are (or were):
A. heavy smokers (3+ packs a day)
B. long time smokers (30+ years)
C. having no intention to stop smoking
D. and went on to cease smoking within first week of vaping.

That, IMO, is amazing. I don't know of any other cessation method that could work that well. I was also thinking, yesterday, that I'm kinda surprised cessation isn't 100%. Then followed that up with idea that I'm not part of the cessation crowd, but am part of crowd that has reduced so greatly that I often wonder how any vaper (of open system devices) could continue on as heavy smoker. I honestly find that impossible unless one is trying to do both just to prove some, rather juvenile, point. About 3 weeks ago, I had all of 6 smokes in a day. Vaped normally after that, and it was another week before I had another smoke. As one who's quit cold turkey, I don't think it would be possible to have 6 smokes in a day, have one a week later, and not soon be back to smoking a pack a day or more.

vaping takes heavy smoking and, rather quickly, reduces it to light smoker and as demonstrated by A, B, C and D above, can take very heavy smoker and reduce them to non-smoker in 7 days or less. I continue to be amazed by stories of people that smoked twice as much as me at my peak (of heavy smoking) and who when trying vaping cut down to zero smokes in a very short period of time.

I am honestly a little surprised that the cessation rate isn't at or very close to 100% for those who do wish to stop smoking. For those who don't, I would be a little amazed if it didn't reduce them to moderate smoker, though with stipulation that might take some time (like 90 days, maybe a little longer). And yet, there are plenty of stories around (online) where the heaviest of smokers with zero intention to quit, have quit smoking in less than a week via vaping. Again, that continues to amaze me.

 

[MrsMac]

I was a pack or pack and a half a day smoker for over 15 years. I haven't touched a smoke since the day I bought my cheap starter kit. My mother on the other hand who got hers the same day as I did has fully reverted back to smoking. Think the difference is I REALLY personally wanted to stop smoking, I don't think she did. Even though she says she does. Will power is just as important as anything else. In the first two weeks I was tempted, but I kept reminding myself I didn't need to. I was still getting nicotine and my oral fixation was being met. I've tried quitting with nicorette gum and patches etc. None worked because I missed the "go to" habit of a cigarette. Driving and talking on the phone were triggers for me and fortunately vaping has solved that.

 

[r77r7r]

Haha, I couldn't figure out my equipment in a weeks time, then it took much fiddling ( atty/cartridge). When I finally popped a Boge on, it finally happened.

But yeah, to go from 3PAD to vape in a day or so is quite amazing. BP must be quite flustered that they didn't figure that out first, lol.

 

[r77r7r]

I was a pack or pack and a half a day smoker for over 15 years. I haven't touched a smoke since the day I bought my cheap starter kit. My mother on the other hand who got hers the same day as I did has fully reverted back to smoking. Think the difference is I REALLY personally wanted to stop smoking, I don't think she did. Even though she says she does. Will power is just as important as anything else. In the first two weeks I was tempted, but I kept reminding myself I didn't need to. I was still getting nicotine and my oral fixation was being met. I've tried quitting with nicorette gum and patches etc. None worked because I missed the "go to" habit of a cigarette. Driving and talking on the phone were triggers for me and fortunately vaping has solved that.

I see it more as Timing, then willpower myself. It takes alot of willpower to keep paying the price of smoking..........

 

[mattiem]

Haha, I couldn't figure out my equipment in a weeks time, then it took much fiddling ( atty/cartridge). When I finally popped a Boge on, it finally happened.

But yeah, to go from 3PAD to vape in a day or so is quite amazing. BP must be quite flustered that they didn't figure that out first, lol.

The thing is, BP doesn't want their products to work well. If you quit with their products you wouldn't be back for more.

I was a 1 1/2 pad smoker when I quit. Was up to 2-2 1/2 packs at times during the 45 + years that I smoked. I tried BP's products. Didn't work. I bought my first little kit almost 3 years ago. I will hit my 3 year smoke free anniversary in just a few days. Amazing cessation device even though they can't be advertized as one

 

[MrsMac]

I see it more as Timing, then willpower myself. It takes alot of willpower to keep paying the price of smoking..........

I suppose you could see it either way. I just believe that if you're always waiting for the right time for things there will never be one.

 

[skoony]

38 years at 2 or more packs a day at the end.
bought a V2 starter kit july 24,2013 and haven't looked back.
MrsMac do live in New York City?
$10.55 a pack. OMG.
regards
mike

 

[Alien Traveler]

I am honestly a little surprised that the cessation rate isn't at or very close to 100% for those who do wish to stop smoking.

I believe:
For those who really wish to stop smoking cessation rate for "cold turkey" method is about 100%.
For those who really wish to stop smoking while vaping cessation rate is about 100%.
For those who hope to stop smoking cessation rate is pretty low with any method.
Actually, as I remember, research shows that overall cessation rate with vaping is rather low (as with any other method), but vaping do help to decrease smoking.

P.S. However, cessation rate is high for ECF members.

 

[MrsMac]

38 years at 2 or more packs a day at the end.
bought a V2 starter kit july 24,2013 and haven't looked back.
MrsMac do live in New York City?
$10.55 a pack. OMG.
regards
mike

I live about an hour north of NYC. $10.55 is average here right now. One of my biggest reasons to stop smoking plus, not wanting my boys to smoke when they are older. You know lead by example and all that jazz.

 

[R. Scott Kennan]

I definitely get long term dual use.

I don't know if you've seen my WTA thread, but I smoked for 17 years, then spent another year as a dual user, or just plain smoker. Even when I went a month without smoking a cigarette, I always had a craving somewhere. When eventually did have a cigarette it was like coming home.

Because of budget issues, I wasn't able to get cigarettes this time around (I was buying them in bulk on a reservation in another state), and in a panic, I ordered some WTA juice, which I had heard helped with cravings. As soon as I made my order, I stopped smoking, to make sure that I had an unbiased reaction to the WTA when I got it. I wanted to make sure I felt it if it actually had an effect.

With nic juices, I was chain vaping 24 mg all day, and still not feeling satisfied. Within the first few minutes of using WTA, I was feeling fine, and actually a little better. Not "high"... just really fine. Like the moment when an elephant gets off of your foot, this gave me a lot of pleasure. I was giddy all day, mostly because of the fact that I had found something that worked for me. The next day, after a bit of a rough start from over-vaping, I stabilized, and now I'm good.

For me, it really did work. At least so far. I feel no cravings whatsoever, can talk about cigarettes without wanting one, and can even smell them. I've had exactly one urge to have one in the few days since I got my WTA juice, and that was after an amazing Greek meal when I plopped down on the couch. It wasn't physical, so much as psychological. A little vaping covered it.

I'm slowly trying lower nic/WTA levels. 18 mg WTA seems like it might be too much for my needs, so I'm experimenting with 12. If that's too little, I'll adjust back up. No matter what, though, I'm a vaper now. I've always felt guilty about posting or commenting on vape topics, because I felt like a fraud. Not any more.

The long and short of this post is that I can definitely understand long term dual use. I also think that more people who are struggling to quit and find that vaping doesn't work might want to try WTA.
So far it's given me the benefits of vaping without the "drawbacks" I perceived when I was trying nic alone. I'm in no pain, and I really think I'm a vaper for life at this point...despite the short length of time on the ticker in my sig.

If you're cool with dual using, that's obviously fine too. I'm not suddenly going to become a hypocrite- I enjoyed smoking even as I made myself feel guilty about it. Enjoy whatever makes you happy.

 

[VNeil]

41 year smoker here, 3 PAD. First time I quit, more or less, was in the early 1990's. Smoked an occasional cig, mainly because my wife is a heavy smoker, smokes in the house, etc. And back then I bought her cigs bulk, cheaper. Used Nicorette Gum, which, at the time, was prescription. My doc refused to renew, and I immediately went back to smoking. Chewed NIC gum and NIC lozenges on and off over the years.

In June, while out of town, I started vaping, and I quit for a week, but after returning home to my smoking wife, started down that slippery slope again. I was back over a PAD and decided I REALLY REALLY needed to quit, because my lungs can't take it anymore. Plus the cost.

On July 30 I smoked my last cig. Not a puff since (just passed 90 days). Never in my life have I gone 90 days without a single cig. I truly believe I am done.

If I didn't live with a heavy smoker I think I could have quit as soon as I started vaping, but it is very difficult to quit while living with a smoker, so it took me some extra time.

Vaping is, by far, the best way to quit I ever tried. I understand why there is a war against vaping. It is so effective it is putting a huge dent in the monied interests- big tobacco, gov't taxes, pharma with overpriced and ineffective cessation methods, and etc. They should fear us.

 

[Norrin]

I believe:
For those who really wish to stop smoking cessation rate for "cold turkey" method is about 100%.
For those who really wish to stop smoking while vaping cessation rate is about 100%.
For those who hope to stop smoking cessation rate is pretty low with any method.
Actually, as I remember, research shows that overall cessation rate with vaping is rather low (as with any other method), but vaping do help to decrease smoking.

P.S. However, cessation rate is high for ECF members.

I thought researched showed it to be the most effective method, 30% or so and as many are like me and didn't start to stop it's quite good. Also the amount of duel fuel users means that it is having a dramatic effect on the overall health of each nation even though all governments are hell bent on stopping us.

I was about 2 packs equivelant and 27years smoking when I decided to cut down by vaping and I did keep trying to smoke but after 10 days I just couldn't hack the taste any more. I would say that using fruity flavours is more effective than tobacco (opinion not with any proof) because you can't vape tasty stuff and put up with stinkie.

 

[ppeeble]

Timing is all..
I had to stop smoking and went from a 35yr 2pad habit to zero. Without a PV i don't know if i could have done it.
Vaping saved my life and i hate to think what would have happened to me had that option not been available.
Using a PV and wanting to stop is the key here. As has been said before buying an e-cigarette and hoping it will replace the need for willpower is not going to work.
I know a LOT of dual users (in fact all but 3 PV users) and they are ok with that. I like to think that should they really want to stop they now have an alternative.

 

[Recycled Roadkill]

46 years smoking and at the end about 2 1/4 packs a day. I bought my evod for the purpose of cutting down. Within 24 hours I'd smoked my last cigarette and haven't wanted one since. I had no intention of quitting and no will power was needed as I had none at all.

Wife smoked about 1 PAD when we bought our evods. She's quit & started back several times now.

While vaping was a panacea for me, it hasn't been for her.

 

[IMFire3605]

Have to agree that will power is the number 1 ingredient to someone stopping all together.

I was a pack and a half a day user for 23yrs myself. Where I worked at the time it was quite restrictive to be able to step out and have a smoke, plus got tired of having to get up and go outside in the colder months just because of a nic fit. Started using OTC cigalikes as a crutch during these times, smoke when out and about or times were slow at work when I could. After looking at the cost of buying the convenience store OTC cigalikes, reading how people were saving doing vaping, I was seeing I was not getting those savings.

I enjoyed smoking way to much because of my addictive personality, so had no real intention to quit, had tried to quit for 10 of my smoking years, patches, lozenges, gums, chantix, hypnotizm, tried everything out there. The moment I stepped into a true vape shop and bought my first ego with a ce4, that was the game changer for me, I was down from 1 1/2 packs a day to half a pack with cigalikes, the ce4/ego setup was the point I really slid within 2 1/2 weeks later to full time vaping. It shocked the heck out of me without even realizing it, vaping had taken over to fill in for all my addictive cues. Was at a convenience store getting gas, thought about if I needed to buy a pack, check the vehicle, 6 cigs still in my last pack, and that is when it hit me, tossed the cigs in the trash, got in the vehicle, drove off vaping away exstatic at my accomplishment, 29th of this month will be my 1yr vaperversary, life is good =)

 

[chopdoc]

Some like to smoke and vape because thats what they want to do. Some go back to smoking because thats what they want to do. I was a heavy 3+ PAD average for 40 years. I been known to hit 5 PAD at times of heavy stress and feel like I burnt my lungs more than once. Yet I quit smoking 4 days after buying my first vape starter kit and I know if I smoked a cig today, it wont end with just one. I loved to smoke and knew it was killing me but didnt care because i knew I couldnt quit, I didnt have the will power to do it plus like I said, I loved it. Now that I have quit thanks to vaping I feel so much better that I dont ever want to smoke again.

 

[R. Scott Kennan]

I've got to say, WTA really did replace the need for willpower for me. That said, I know everyone's different.

 

[VNeil]

I know if I smoked a cig today, it wont end with just one. .

This is the lesson I learned. Everyone is different but for me, it would never end with just one. Or maybe, after 3 months, I would hate it. I'm not doing that scientific experiment.

My toughest time was the 4th or 5th day. I believe there is some extraordinarily addictive chemical in smokes that hits a lot of people around that time. I've heard it from others, same 4th-5th day. Once I got past that it was an easy downhill slide. I only think about a smoke once or twice a day now, and as soon as I vape a bit it goes away.

 

[WharfRat1976]

Was thinking yesterday about the cessation claim of smokers to vapers. I'm not one that has ceased smoking, but am one who has cut so far back that when anyone asks me "are you a smoker," I hesitate for a good 5 seconds and usually respond with, "I'm a happy moderate smoker. Haven't had a smoke in x amount of days."

Anyway, yesterday I was thinking about the many vapers on forums who are (or were):
A. heavy smokers (3+ packs a day)
B. long time smokers (30+ years)
C. having no intention to stop smoking
D. and went on to cease smoking within first week of vaping.

That, IMO, is amazing. I don't know of any other cessation method that could work that well. I was also thinking, yesterday, that I'm kinda surprised cessation isn't 100%. Then followed that up with idea that I'm not part of the cessation crowd, but am part of crowd that has reduced so greatly that I often wonder how any vaper (of open system devices) could continue on as heavy smoker. I honestly find that impossible unless one is trying to do both just to prove some, rather juvenile, point. About 3 weeks ago, I had all of 6 smokes in a day. Vaped normally after that, and it was another week before I had another smoke. As one who's quit cold turkey, I don't think it would be possible to have 6 smokes in a day, have one a week later, and not soon be back to smoking a pack a day or more.

Vaping takes heavy smoking and, rather quickly, reduces it to light smoker and as demonstrated by A, B, C and D above, can take very heavy smoker and reduce them to non-smoker in 7 days or less. I continue to be amazed by stories of people that smoked twice as much as me at my peak (of heavy smoking) and who when trying vaping cut down to zero smokes in a very short period of time.

I am honestly a little surprised that the cessation rate isn't at or very close to 100% for those who do wish to stop smoking. For those who don't, I would be a little amazed if it didn't reduce them to moderate smoker, though with stipulation that might take some time (like 90 days, maybe a little longer). And yet, there are plenty of stories around (online) where the heaviest of smokers with zero intention to quit, have quit smoking in less than a week via vaping. Again, that continues to amaze me.

Excellent Post!

With patches, gum, Chantix or vaping, if the smoker is not fully ready, 100% committed to stopping, it won't happen.

In my case, I was ready on 5/26/2014 and have not looked back with no relapses....(YET) I have the type of personality where I KNOW if I have one smoke, I am a dead man. It's over. That's just me. Everyone is different. I was a 35 year smoker with my longest quit period, using patches, of 2 plus years. I had off and on starts and stops using patches but no sustained cessation.

I read and hear the rationalization of the addicted smoker all the time: "Well, I absent-mindedly picked up my hubby's pack of cigarettes and lit one up but I don't count that as smoking."...OOOOKAAAAY....If vaping or any other method is a way to reduce overall smoking than GREAT. It's improvement, not perfection. I respect that.

Again, for complete cessation to occur, the smoker's mind has to be made up that this is really it. It's a little like alcoholism or drug addiction...kind of.

In my personal opinion, quitting analogs is harder than quitting drugs or alcohol. That is why 100% cessation will never happen using any method. The addiction element both mental and physical is just too powerful for most.

 

[pcrdude]

1 1/2 PAD for 35 years. No intention to quit smoking. Last cigarette was the same day I started vaping (January 2013).

Now, vaping about 2-3 mls 18 mg/ml per day. I have no intention to quit or reduce nicotine.

BTW, there are very few others that I know eho have made it vape-only long term like I have. Most dual use, or revert to cigarettes completely.