Unique Noobie

[HyOnLyph]

Hello all. My wife and I have a home for women in recovery from addiction, trauma, abuse etc. As you may imagine, many of the women who come to our home smoke cigarettes. I recently found out about e-cigarettes and am very intruiged by the possibilities. They have enough to worry about right now without the stress of quitting smoking too. If I can somehow provide an alternative, I think it would be a great thing for them.
I'm not a smoker myself. So I really don't have a lot of experience with mg equivalents etc. I've been doing quite a bit of research but recently was told about this forum. I'd love any advice. I've been in contact with a few people who have been of great help. Jeffrey at WordUpeCig.com has been amazing. And Lorraine and Mark at SmokeStik have been really helpful too.

Since I'm new, I can't post on the "swap" page. But I'm very interested in any good kits and accessories that you may have laying around that you don't use for one reason or the other. We are a non-profit and I can actually provide a tax deduction for donations. We currently have 7 women in our home ages 19 to 50 (my wife and I live in the home too) and 4 of them smoke.

I really hope this works out.

Gary

 

[JC Okie]

Sounds like you are really good people. I think e-cigs would work great for your situation....now it comes down to getting some e-cigs. I don't know about the swaps; I'm sure there are some e-cigs out there that the forums members have "outgrown".....but meanwhile, I know that Cignot.com has an array of ecigs and a decent price. They have a two-entire-ecigs kit of Joye 510 (great brand/great ecig) for $35.00. Also, Tasty Vapor has some 510 parts (batteries and atomizers and cartridges and chargers) all on sale. THey're not Joye brand, but still 510s and good. At least that's a couple of places to start looking. I'd suggest looking at the 510 if you want something reasonably priced and effective. I QUIT smoking on a 510. I now have an eGo (Joye...same brand; bigger, longer-lasting battery) and love it. But it's more expensive than the basic 510. Good luck. I'm sure some members who have been at this for a lot longer will have more/better info.
Good luck.
Jan

 

[glowgirl]

Wow it is great that you are doing this. I took all of my patches and gum from prior attempts down to the detox clinic. They don't let people smoke in the building, nor are they allowed to go outside during their stay. As you can imagine it is very hard to undergo detox while also being unable to smoke. Very cruel. I wish you the best. If I hadn't just given all my old kits away to the neighbors I would send you them.

 

[cskent]

As JCnewbie said, a lot of us may have stuff laying around that we've outgrown. I have a complete Smokeanywhere kit laying around. They aren't great but it works. If you want it, it's yours along with a bottle of juice to keep it going a while. Just let me know how to get it to you.

 

[AtomPunk]

My girlfriend is a social worker and works at a home for women who have just come out of rehab. And like a lot of places are not allowed to smoke at all(they just had to break up a cigarette ring) since they are allowed to have their children at the home with them. I think its a great idea. Unfortunately I have no spare parts laying around, but I will be passing on this idea to my girlfriend.

 

[bearscreek]

That's a great idea and nice of you to care! I can't imagine trying to get off alcohol or drugs and quit smoking at the same time. Unfortunately, I really don't have too many extras laying around right now that would work well for them, but I'm sure some people do. Very best of luck.

 

[Saintscruiser]

Greetings, Hy! I'm rather new here myself and using what I purchased. I had a panic attack yesterday when I couldn't find my e-cig at the eye doctor's office. I was showing it to a nurse and I put it in the wrong slot of my purse. It was my last atomizer, and that put me into a panic. I do have a couple of brand new juice bottles called Samms, which was supposed to be close to Salems, but I found it just plain ol' nasty. Someone else might not. I wouldn't want a donation slip for it, but you're welcome to have it, as I won't be using it. Just let me know. It's a great thing ya'll are doing and if you guys can use this, you are most welcome to it.

 

[HyOnLyph]

Wow, I didn't expect this great of a response this fast. Thank you all for such kind words. I also have a pretty good relationship with a few rehab centers around here and I'm going to suggest it to them to. But they are very much in the same boat with regards to expenses.

I'm not familiar enough with this forum to know how to privately give out information such as address etc. I can't figure out how to PM someone. So PM me if you have something you'd like to send. I'll give you the physical address and my email address. You can see us on www[dot]preludefoundation[dot]org.

Since I'm not allowed to post on the other pages, if you think this is a good idea, would you please link this to a post on the "swaps" thread? Thanks again to all of you.

 

[cskent]

If I mail it to the PO Box listed on the contact page of your website is that acceptable?

 

[HyOnLyph]

Yes, the PO box on our website is acceptable. Especially if you put it in a padded envelope rather than a box... but either will work. If it doesn't fit in the PO Box, they'll keep it behind the counter and notify us to pick up. Awesome. Thanks. Hy

 

[Mia]

Working link.........

www.preludefoundation.org

 

[Bahnzo]

Do these women get to keep the kits when they leave?

 

[Automaton]

Hey HyOnLyph, I think this is a great idea!

I'm new and a bit broke, so I don't have much I'm not using. I will, however, see if I can put together some juice for you when I get more bottles.

One way you could go about finding the right nicotine strength for each person, is have one atomizer that you use for testing. Have a 30-minute to 1-hour session where you teach them about the e-cig, and get them to test nicotine strengths.

You could have an empty cart for each woman, so they wouldn't have to share mouthpieces. And drip the juice directly on to the testing atomizer. Get them to start the session when they haven't had a cigarette in a while, and feel a desire for one. Start at, say, 18mg. And have them use that for 10 minutes.

If they don't feel satisfied, take it up to 24mg. If they feel like it's too much, and they start to get a "nicotine high," take it down to 12mg. This would keep it cheap for them to find the right strength, as well as eliminating a lot of trial and error.

 

[HyOnLyph]

[Do these women get to keep the kits when they leave? ]

Well, I haven't thought about that. I suppose if they were really sold on the concept we'd let them keep the kits. (thinking outloud so bear with me) My thought is that if they embrace eCigs, then they'd probably get their own. I think initially it would be a "loaner". The ladies usually stay with us for 6 months or more if they stay clean.

What do you think??

(edited... upon further reflection.... absolutely. They would keep them if they wanted to.)

 

[HyOnLyph]

Thanks MistressNomad. A great idea. I had a sample 510 that I let a few girls try. My mistake was that I didn't realize what the comparable strengths were... so I handed one girl a cartridge with 36 mg. She about passed out (and she smokes Marboro reds.) My brother in law is a chain smoker and he choked on it. I've learned a lot more since then. I won't make that mistake again. ;o) Most of the girls either smoke lights or the cheapest stinkiest analogs they can find. I used to smoke a pipe in my younger, british sportscar days. (yeah I was cool)... and I just can't stand the smell of cheap horsemanure cigarettes. Thanks for your suggestions. Sounds like dripping is a great way to try different strengths and flavors without soaking a full cartridge.

 

[Saintscruiser]

This is my If these ladies' families can supply an e-cig with the juice, that's one thing. However, if they have no one, I'd hate for these ladies to switch to e-cigs and can't afford to buy one at first along w/juice, then start bumming analogs off of people. I think there are enough folks here that can scrape together something for them. What does everyone else think? Just a thought.

 

[bearscreek]

cskent, what exact kind of SE e-cig do you have?

 

[HyOnLyph]

Saintscruiser.. I agree. Nearly all of the girls here are computer/internet literate and can order their own stuff after they leave. If I understand correctly, if they control their use, ecigs are cheaper than analogs. The women who have tried ecigs seem to use them to "cut way back" on analogs but they don't convert to 100% ecigs right off the bat. I'm willing to order for them while they're here with us. All of them are either employed or looking for employement and temporarily sponsored. They all seem to find the money to buy cigarettes. So I don't think it would be a big problem. I go into this with my eyes open, realizing that some won't embrace it long term. But one of our ladies has cut down to nearly zero nicotine and the other has quit smoking altogether by weaning herself using the ecig...all without any pressure to "quit smoking". I'm excited about that.

 

[cskent]

cskent, what exact kind of SE e-cig do you have?

It says on the box "Smoking Everywhere" Electronic Cigarette, Gold One. Other than that it doesn't offer much info. There is a separate batt, atty, and the cart that slides over the atty.

 

[cskent]

If I understand correctly, if they control their use, ecigs are cheaper than analogs.

The initial equipment purchase can be pretty high, but once that's out of the way the cost is considerably less. I've found that I'm vaping a 10ml bottle in about 5 to 6 days and paying $4.25/bottle. I was smoking a pack every two days at $4.15/pack, so, I've cut my cost by almost 2/3. I vape more than I smoked, but still feel the health benefits of quitting analogs.

By the way HyOnLyph, the package is ready to mail so I'll try to get it to the post office tomorrow. After perusing your website you seem to be doing some good work. Thanks for helping those who truly need it, and to society as a whole.