Quitting smoking is no easy feat, but many smokers are turning to vaping to help them out. ‘The smoking toolkit study: a national study of smoking and smoking cessation’ in England found that e-cigarettes are 60% more effective in helping smokers quit than by going cold turkey or using nicotine replacement therapies (NRT) like patches and gum. So it’s no surprise that more than half of the vapers are ex-smokers, with a third using vaping to help them quit smoking.
Vaping offers an alternative to smoking for people who are unable or unwilling to quit the use of nicotine. The potential for reducing your exposure to risk (when compared to combustible cigarettes) is largely due to the fact that they do not involve burning tobacco. Alternatives to cigarettes that involve no burning are likely to emit far fewer and lower levels of toxicants. A recent report found that, while e-cigarettes are not risk-free, and are addictive, smokers who switch to vaping can expect to reduce their risks of smoking related diseases. Find out more about whether vaping is less risky than smoking.
Read on to find out how e-cigarettes may help you quit smoking, as well as what happens when you quit smoking and start to vape.
CAN E-CIGARETTES HELP YOU QUIT SMOKING?
Whilst vaping is not licensed by the Public Health authorities as a smoking cessation product, thousands of people in the UK have stopped smoking with the help of an e-cigarette.
Vaping’s popularity with adult smokers is due to the fact it gives you some of the things you might miss from cigarettes, but with no tobacco, no ash, no tar and no smoke odour* :
*By 'no tar' we mean no tobacco derived tar. This product is not risk-free and contains nicotine, an addictive substance
- Controlled nicotine delivery
Going cold turkey with nicotine can be a struggle, and vaping means you can still get nicotine in a similar way to smoking. With vaping, you also have more control over the amount of nicotine you get compared to other products as E-Liquids come in a variety of strengths you can choose from. For Vuse, the nicotine strength is always listed on the packaging of our products.
- Similar throat hit
The nicotine feel in your throat is something you don’t know you’ll miss until it’s gone. Vaping gives you the same experience, but with more control, thanks to the variety of nicotine strengths, range of flavours.
- Inhaling and exhaling
This is something many smokers miss, but vaping mimics the smoking ritual.
- Hand to mouth action
Like inhaling and exhaling, that hand to mouth action is something you might miss, but when you vape you use the same action as you would if you were smoking.
HOW TO USE ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES TO QUIT SMOKING
There’s a dedicated Public Health England page: using e-cigarettes to stop smoking where you can find more information about this.
Some of the points we believe it is important to consider include:
- Vape as often as you need to
Especially at the start, vape as often as you need to take your mind off your cigarette cravings.
- Use the right strength E-Liquid
You might need to experiment with different strengths until you find the one that satisfies you. It is important to choose the right strength of E-Liquid to satisfy your needs. If you are a heavy smoker who is trying to quit, we would recommend starting with a higher strength. If you’re not a heavy smoker then a lower strength would be advisable.
- Stop smoking cigarettes completely
When you start vaping, the number one rule is no more cigarettes. Don’t be tempted, even by just one. When you get the craving, reach for your vape instead.
HOW TO DECIDE ON THE RIGHT VAPE TO HELP QUIT SMOKING?
THE RIGHT DEVICE
Before making the switch from smoking to vaping, it’s important to have done your research. At Vuse, whilst our products are not licensed as tobacco cessation products, we offer many different types of vape. We recommend you get started with a rechargeable ‘closed system’ device such as our ePod device (which offers up to 1900 puffs* per pack) , commonly known as pod mods as you just choose your flavour and strength, pop in the pod and you are ready to go. Because pod mods are accompanied by liquid pods intended to be used with the device, closed vaping devices offer more control over what liquid is vaped and the way the liquid is heated compared to open systems.
Alternatively, you can try our new Vuse Go disposable device which offers up to 500 puffs** with no charging.
*: Based on laboratory testing (including recharging) of Vuse ePod 2 device and may vary depending on an individual’s usage behaviour
**: Based on laboratory testing of newly manufactured product and may vary depending on an individual’s usage behaviour
THE RIGHT E-LIQUID
There are a wide range of e-liquids to suit a wide range of preferences.
Then you want to think about strength and flavour. Our ePod and ePen e-liquids range from 0mg-18mg, and our new Vuse GO disposable device comes in 10mg. Our data suggests that smokers tend to prefer higher nicotine strengths in either tobacco or mint flavour** when they start vaping. The key is to work out which nicotine delivery you prefer
For example, you could start at a higher nicotine strength and over time, you can gradually reduce your nicotine levels to a strength that suits you.
** based on Kantar ‘Understanding Nicotine Consumer Journey Qualitative Learnings- UK, July 2020
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU QUIT SMOKING AND NICOTINE COMPLETELY
As stated by Public Health England, from the moment you stop smoking, your body starts its recovery process. During this time, especially in the first month, you may find that you experience some nicotine withdrawal and recovery symptoms.
Your craving for nicotine will improve after the first 2-3 weeks as your body adjusts to being nicotine-free. All withdrawal symptoms are a sign that your body is recovering from the effects of smoking and nicotine.
