I gave up smoking in 2005 and have never looked back. There wasn’t the advice and support then that there is now, other than going to the Stop Smoking clinic which, I can tell you, was not a lot of fun. I could have done with more resources such as those from CFAH.org to help me make the decision earlier and to find a way to quit easier, using methods that worked for me.
Did you know that WHO (World Health Organisation) have classified a number of the ingredients in tobacco cigarette as being toxic and potentially cancer-causing? That in itself should be enough to have smokers throwing their cigarettes away instantly, but quitting is hard, which is where vaping comes in.
Studies show that it isn’t just the *nicotine that smokers find difficult to walk away from, it’s the hand to mouth action, the relaxation, the taking a drag and the social aspect. Smokers find smoking enjoyable, and I get it, trust me. Vaping offers the opportunity for smokers to enjoy all of this without the nasties they are putting into their bodies when smoking, and even Public Health England say that vaping is at least 95% healthier than smoking. It’s the perfect alternative. You may have your cake, each it and not feel sick afterwards or have to worry about calories or guilt.
Variety is the Spice of Life
One of the wonders of vaping is that there are so many different e juice flavours to try out. You can go fruity, sweet, creamy, minty, enjoy drink-related flavours, tobacco flavours (yes really) or opt for some of the original-tasting flavours that many vapers love.
There are many e cigarettes, from those which allow you to alter the temperature you vape at (producing big flavoursome clouds) down to plug and play starter kits that get you going without any fuss or need for vast knowledge of the ins and outs of an e cigarette. You may completely customise your vaping experience.
The Cost
On face value, some might think that vaping is more expensive than smoking as you have some set-up costs (although basic starter kits are actually really affordable) and e liquids and consumables to consider. All of this has been taken into account by many doing professional comparisons and vaping comes up considerably cheaper each and every time, particularly longer term.
Health
It all comes back to health at the end of the day, and so it should. Health professionals, NHS trusts and charities are all pointing people towards vaping in order to get them off smoking in order to improve their health and reduce the risk of smoking-related premature death. Public Health England, the UK Government department responsible for the introduction of the Go Smoke Free legislation which saw smoking in many public areas made illegal have been keen to advocate for vaping, even listing e cigarettes as a useful cessation tool on their 2017 Stoptober materials. A Hampshire NHS trust are giving those serious about giving up smoking a one-time £25 vaping voucher for use in local shops to help them get a basic starter kit and introduce themselves to vaping properly in order to make the switch.
Clearly the benefits of choosing to vape far outweigh any reason to continue smoking. Black Note have put together a great article on help you quit smoking. If quitting smoking is on your list for 2018, good luck! As I wrote previously, I quit back in 2005 and have never looked back. My only regret is not putting in a jar what I spent on tobacco cigarettes each week and saving it. I could be looking at early retirement by now!
*E liquids do contain nicotine however, unlike tobacco cigarettes, you may choose with vaping the strength of nicotine you want, gradually tapering your usage down if you wish until you are enjoying zero nicotine vape e liquids.