US Department of Veterans Affairs: e-cigs a no-go
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True, they SHOULD inform their patients (and staff) about the difference between these products and FDA-approved NRT. Why not start with the success rates from Moore's study on use of NRT as directed, and then have them compare to success rates in Bullen & Etter's study.
Are they going to bother to mention that the reason WHO doesn't want them exempted has nothing at all to do the clean air? WHO will not be pleased if millions of smokers get off the NRT, relapse to tobacco, NRT, relapse to tobacco (repeat ad infinitum) Profit Wheel.
Most of WHO's spokespeople against E-cigarettes work for organizations that receive a lot of funding from NRT product manufacturers.
Are they going to bother to mention that the reason WHO doesn't want them exempted has nothing at all to do the clean air? WHO will not be pleased if millions of smokers get off the NRT, relapse to tobacco, NRT, relapse to tobacco (repeat ad infinitum) Profit Wheel.
Most of WHO's spokespeople against E-cigarettes work for organizations that receive a lot of funding from NRT product manufacturers.
I agree completely, heath care providers should inform their patients on how ineffective FDA approved NRTs are and how dangerous Chantix can be. They should also inform their patients of the 85% success rate of e-cigs and how there have been no serious health problems associated with e-cigarette use. They should also inform their patients on how BP has been spreading the money around, to protect their profits made from the sale of NRTs.
They should, that is, if they really care about the health and well being of their patients.
They should, that is, if they really care about the health and well being of their patients.
I know of a guy northern CA who was actually recommended eCigs by his VA doctor (about 2 years ago). Keep in mind he said this was a "very liberal part of California", but he was actually able to purchase eCigs/cartomizers under his VA benefits. Anyone reading this forum who receives VA benefits and uses/used eCigs should try to align somehow...strength in numbers has seemed to work to the benefit of this industry before.
The question is, given the wide dissemination of information on the adverse health effects of Chantix, why the VA is offering up our veterans as guinea pigs for experiements using Chantix.
They may not recommend them but they changed me to a nonsmoker/quit in my records 2 weeks ago when they found out I hadn't had a cigarette in 7+ months. This was done even though they knew I'm vaping if I'm awake. 
This is a great idea. My cousin's husband was prescribed Chantix by the VA and they ended up separating. Once he got off the Chantix, they stopped fighting and are now happily reunited. She said that his personality underwent a very unpleasant change.
So yes, how do we get the VA vapers organized (without getting them confused with Virginia vapers?) Maybe we should use the periods (V.A.) or expand it to USVA. What do you think?
I don't even want to go into what I think of the VA. This only makes my opinion worse.
I'm not sure how many people on this forum receive VA benefits- maybe a poll, or contacting the mods to make a sticky thread at the top would help. I would also imagine CASAA, NVC, etc. could use their database/mailing lists to get a better idea what the population is. Only after you can unite X amount of vapers would I recommend trying to contact the VA to present your case and allow them to take a second look at it. I would imagine having success stories and testimonials of Veterans would show more favorable as opposed to trying to preach to them without it. Just my $0.02.
Just in case you're wondering, it's not one of those things you get used to.
Prepare to continue getting angrier.
VA policy on Chantix ..
To meet the criteria to be put on Chantix, you must first have tried two alternative methods of quitting smoking. Then your provider will send a request in to the pharmacy, which will have to be verified that you have in fact tried at least two alternatives before they will send it to you. You will get the starter pack, which is the first month. You will have to check in with your provider once you have started the medication and quit smoking before they will order the maintenance pack for the next month. You will have to do this for each month to continue the medication.
To meet the criteria to be put on Chantix, you must first have tried two alternative methods of quitting smoking. Then your provider will send a request in to the pharmacy, which will have to be verified that you have in fact tried at least two alternatives before they will send it to you. You will get the starter pack, which is the first month. You will have to check in with your provider once you have started the medication and quit smoking before they will order the maintenance pack for the next month. You will have to do this for each month to continue the medication.
Just in case you're wondering, it's not one of those things you get used to.
Prepare to continue getting angrier.
in fact some of these articles just make me want to cry realizing how many people are really being hurt by this. don't any of these people have souls? how can anybody be so selfish and so cruel? how can they sleep at night know how many innocent people they're hurting and killing, especially in this case when it's people who fought for our country? I like to think of them as some kind of super villain inhuman monsters, but the part that saddens me the most is that in reality, they are human beings. and it just floors me that any human being can be as terrible of people as they are.
Where do "they" find people who write such tripe? I think it went like this. OK Joe, need you to respond to this inquiry. Nothing out of ordinary - stick to the company line. Remember, FDA is first cousin here. These soldiers are not stupid. They'll smell a rat no matter what we might do. But we don't need to fight with FDA on this. If someone wants reimbursement for alleged NRT with e-cigs - grant if reasonably priced. Deny if over-priced but give them some options. No reason to be hard-... of this - it might save some people. But, please get your draft back to me by tomorrow.
I plan to file a Freedom of Information Act request for all correspondence that resulted in this letter.
I'm certain that even if you did uncover some dirt, that any lasting resolution in regards to our benefits, or right to use outside of smoke filled shacks, will be long since passed by the time your request is granted. But i still hope you get something useful anyway, every bit of ammo counts.
If that's how the system works in MO, then I'm impressed. That is more diligence and maintenance/follow-up than I've ever seen here in California. That may be what they're supposed to do, but they write prescriptions and repeat prescriptions here like schoolgirls and love notes.
As for VA... bordering on criminally useless here in CA. Maybe CA is just screwed all around... maybe just Southern California given Ocamilo's post. Your friend should never move, or at least wait until his current VA doctor retires.
Good luck with that FOIA, Placebo. The only times I've got something worthwhile from a FOIA is when they accidentally provided it to me, instead of redacting it or "misplacing" it. I once even got a response letter, on letterhead and signed, which read almost verbatim "We cannot provide the information you requested because we cannot find it." lol (back in about 2006 for a FOIA on a nonprofit corp).
The only point I'm trying to make is the VA does not hand out prescriptions hap hazzard .. especially expensive drugs .. VA maintains their own pharmacies and buys their drugs on the open market .. they are quite frugal in the area of expensive meds and yes, I am a Vet and have first hand experience .. in fact, they won't even tell you Chantix is available unless you really press .. they prefer to issue patches / gum / or wellbutrin ..
Maybe so, but IMHO this study is chilling, in view of the fact that varenicline is known to trigger violent behavior, depression, suicide, and murder. Connect to Quit for Smoking - Full Text View - ClinicalTrials.gov
But I guess it must be all right, because they are only targeting the low income vererans. <- That was sarcasm.
It seems to me that we need to be very, very careful what mind-alternative medications we give to veterans that might have PTSD.
As with most of your posts, I agree .. however, not all are effected negatively .. and so many scrips carry their own set of issues .. especially the "mind drugs" .. I'm all for the natural lifestyle ..
I personally know of several folks that have quit using Chantix with no adverse effects .. I'm not interested in using it .. my Doc gave me wellbutrin to quit and I very quickly decided I did not want that ..
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