Blog
Is Vaping the Best Way to Quit Smoking? Here’s What Experts Say
For many decades, smokers have tried everything from patches to prescription pills in an effort to quit. Lately, there’s been tussle on whether vaping may hold that answer too. But is it really the best way to quit smoking? Or just a substitue habit?
We break down what experts actually say. But what does it mean for real people?
Why do they vape?
Simple. Traditional cigarettes deliver nicotine through combustion, meaning thousands of nasty chemicals. Vaping merely heats e-liquid. No burning tobacco.
So for many smokers, that step down is ‘easier’ than patches and gum. The hand to mouth, the hit on the throat, the inhalation. Juggling vapes becomes as natural as lighting a ciggy to many new users hence the disposable vapes and rechargeables feature targeting quitting smokers.
Control is another element – people can pick and match strengths including a traitor to low nicotine and chip away at their usage over time.
What do experts/research really say?
Going into many public health organisations still cautious but not anti.
Countries like the UK have admitted vaping is better than smoking even if not ‘safe’ but suggests clinical studies hint smoking to vaping offsets a higher stop rate for smokers than traditional moieties alone. But here’s the crux that the experts wish to stress – dipping in the vape is not a 100% safe thing to do, it’s just a handy tool for harm reduction.
We have no idea what vaping every day does to us long-term, especially if you are one of those that vape indefinitely.
The pros of vaping for giving up smoking
Vapes are convenient.
Quitting smoking is a tapering process, nicotine can be moved down a notch from high to low.
They’re less strange. “Proper vaping” – imitation smoking, going through the motions without stinking.
There are loads of different vo disposable devices available in a range of price points. From pocket “device type vapes” to disposables that can exhale thousands of puffs (5000, 10000, 15000 puffs etc).
And the most important of all: Vaping has flavours like mango ice, blueberry ice mint, tobacco etc., that hit the spot for those cravings for a ciggie. For some smokers, does help to control the yearning for a cigarette.
For heavy users of NIC, getting the vape disposable that lasts long enough or with Rechargeable disposables, yes, does then fit into the routine seamlessly without having to haul loads of batteries around.
The cons you need to know
But there are negative things too:
You can get hooked on nicotine; swap but never stop
Quality varies a lot from brand to brand and you do get devices where hitting the tastebuds with something burnt is neither healthy nor a lot of fun.
You can abuse vaping too, and “why is my vape not hitting” and “why does my vape taste burnt” come from not using the youVape properly or leaving cheaper products to manufacture them.
Who should not vape? If you aren’t a smoker of cigs DO NOT START… experts say.
And so, in a nutshell, vaping can replace smoking but you will still carry and feed a craving.
Is vaping better than going “cold turkey” or using patches/lozenges?
It has at least one edge on patches and gum: behavioral satisfaction. Many smokers relapse because they simply cannot resist the “urge to smoke.” Vaping does a better job of taking care of that craving than most other therapies.
That said, medications your doctor can prescribe (varenicline for instance) may be more effective for you, especially if used hand-in-hand with some form of counseling. There’s no one size fits all. It depends on your habits, tastes, and level of addiction to nicotine.
What experienced users do
If you have a talk to users who have than successfully managed to quit cigs through vape kits, they have some of the experiences in common:
They start with a device capable of delivering enough nicotine per hit to equal that of a cig
They opt for a regular, dependable product (battery, coil quality, airflow seems to be of more importance than many realize)
They slowly decrease the levels of nicotine in their vape over time
They avoid going back and forth between their cigs and their vaping device (dual use will prolong the transition)
Devices that utilize mesh coils, a battery that fires on a consistent basis (650mAh is probably the minimum), Type-C recharging instead of that ugly little micro-USB doohickey, etc. tend to make for a more pleasant experience, therefore a better transition, it stands to reason.
So, is vaping the best way quit?
Truthfully, it’s probably only only the best way for some of us.
You are a heavy smoker struggling with patches and gum. In that case, vaping possibly makes for a much more realistic option for you—for now. Ideally, it’s a stepping stone to cessation, and not a way to continue smoking long-term.
A final word, or two
Vaping is something between a harm-reducing odyssey and a new habit toreplace the former (although this still happens, in my experience).
It’s not a miracle, but it has helped millions move away from traditional cigs.
If the above sounds a bit like you, select a good device, spend some time getting used to it, and set your plan to slowly decrease the levels of nicotine you flit from fondant for.
In short: Make a vaping a not just good, but part of your exit plan long-term.
For inquiries: smokingbloom.com