Smoking vs. "Vaping"

[ArtVandelay]

Any smokers on here?

Here's my problem: I smoke when I drink and lately it seems all anyone wants to do is drink! hahahaha. I've gone from drinking twice a week to about 4 or 5 times a week (bowling night, then there's a 5k run at a local brew house on wednesdays, then sometimes Friday and Saturday night with friends).

So I read about electronic cigs, and the study Boston University did on them (which basically said: Look, you idiots, this is NOT HEALTHY!!! But compared to a real cig, it's a health food, although we don't for sure know the long term effects...).

I was also sold on the ability to choose your nicotine level with electronic cigs. I don't want this to become a regular thing.

THEY'RE DELICIOUS!!! I have this Apple Pie one that's absolutely amazing. They don't smell, there's no tar, you can smoke indoors without those repercussions of smoking a cig inside... I think I might be MORE afraid of these things than a regular cig.

Anyone have thoughts? Do you think you vape more?

[Judy clemons]

Any smokers on here?

Here's my problem: I smoke when I drink and lately it seems all anyone wants to do is drink! hahahaha. I've gone from drinking twice a week to about 4 or 5 times a week (bowling night, then there's a 5k run at a local brew house on wednesdays, then sometimes Friday and Saturday night with friends).

So I read about electronic cigs, and the study Boston University did on them (which basically said: Look, you idiots, this is NOT HEALTHY!!! But compared to a real cig, it's a health food, although we don't for sure know the long term effects...).

I was also sold on the ability to choose your nicotine level with electronic cigs. I don't want this to become a regular thing.

THEY'RE DELICIOUS!!! I have this Apple Pie one that's absolutely amazing. They don't smell, there's no tar, you can smoke indoors without those repercussions of smoking a cig inside... I think I might be MORE afraid of these things than a regular cig.

Anyone have thoughts? Do you think you vape more?

I believe these are just as bad if not worse...i smoked for over 30 years up to 2 packs a day. i finally quit
cold turkey after trying everything under the sun from patches, gum, pills,and hypnotized, stayed off for 5 yrs
then took that one cig that put me right back where i started only it was even harder to quit this time although it was sooner than before did not make it easier. i quit cold turkey again and have been off since
nov 2011 and i pray i never go back. these electric cig do have nicotine in them and for that reason i will
not mess with them and any one else that has stopped smoking should not either in my opinion.

[classygranny]

I agree with Judy.

Not to sound preachy, but here's some experience talking. QUIT the drinking (or slow way, way down) AND QUIT the smoking - all smoking. The nicotine is what is addicting. We all say that we have it under control, but an addiction is just that, an addiction. I could relate many events that happen to us, our bodies, and our loved ones from these two addictions - but they're not pretty. AND you have heard all of these before. Please listen. Please listen to your body - your brain. I'm guessing you are on the younger side, so you're not feeling what your body is actually going through, so pay attention.

I understand the peer pressure that we all go through in these situations. Find a way around it. A friend of mine wanted to quit drinking so badly, she just told us all to back off when she ordered water or soda. When I decided to quit/slow down, I wasn't as strong as she was. I enjoyed bourbon and water, so when we were out as a group, I would leave the table before ordering and give my order directly to the waitress away from earshot of the group - "bring me water with a splash of soda, everytime I order". That way it appeared I was still drinking my bourbon/water. I was weak, but I did quit. I only have a glass of wine or a drink about 6 times a year now. I so wish I had quit before I did. But I digress....this is about you.

Please, please step back from the situation and really use your head about what path you are choosing for your body. If you only smoke when you drink...stop drinking to quit smoking. The vapors are just as bad as cigs as you are still inhaling a foreign substance into your healthy body.

Sorry, just my two cents worth.

[billf]

I started smoking at 22 while in the service. I went off yet again on someone and soon the Colonel came to me with a carton of Marlboro lights. Told me I better start smoking and relax before I had a stroke before age 30. 22 years later I've tried everything to quit. Did one time for two years but made the mistake of taking one hit of someone else's, hooked again.

If you can quit smoking by quitting drinking then by all means, please do so. I will never give up trying to quit.

[striker12]

billf i also smoke started when i was 14 when i was in grade 9 but when i was 14 i stopped in the winter and same thing at 15 stopped in the winter but sicne 16 i have not stopped smoking but i have learned how to control cravings.

go out and find the worse tasting smokes ever ( to me is menthals) cant stand them at all buy a pack but dont have any of packs of smokes in your house and every time you want to go for a smoke you grab the worst tasting smoke and then your mind kicks in saying you hate these smokes and your body dose not even want to light one up after awhile of just lighting up a few. not sure how long of doing this will help you quite but it took me 20 day to slow down i use to be a pack aday now i only smoke 1 pack ever 3 days and these are packs of 20

[billf]

I don't smoke in my vehicles or house. A carton will last me a month. I smoke at work, one in the morning, one at lunch and one in the afternoon. It's so little my boss has asked me several times why I can't just quit. I may try going to half a cig each time and see what happens.

I can't stand the taste or smell of them so getting the worse one doesn't help.

[got_a_300]

I used to smoke I started when I was 13 and smoked solid for
46 years. I was smoking up to 3 or more cartons a week and
then one day back on March 5 2009 I had 1 cig left in the pack
and 1 full pack laying there on the dresser left out of 3 cartons.

I decided I'd just see how long I could go before I would light
it up and when the urge hit to smoke it I'd just pick it up out of
the ash tray and puff on it like it was lit without ever lighting it
up.

Well that was 4 years and 2 months ago and I haven't taken a
puff or smoked one since then and that has been the best thing
I've ever done for myself. I finally gave the full pack away around
2 years or so ago.

[TCJ]

Electronic cigarettes are great for those of us who don't smoke. :D

[Gunz1911]

I smoke a pipe and Cigars when I drink. Maybe once or twice a month. Never tried the E-cig and probably never will. If they are bad for you as cigs, well then atlesat you are not hurting the people around you.

[bowl1820]

I smoke a pipe and Cigars when I drink. Maybe once or twice a month. Never tried the E-cig and probably never will. If they are bad for you as cigs, well then atlesat you are not hurting the people around you.

They have a E Cigar and a E Pipe if interested.

[julieanne]

That's awesome. I have never picked up a cigarette if fact I despise them. I have heard that quitting smoking is harder than some drugs. KUDOS to you!

[panbanger]

I switched to the e-cig over 2 years ago. Love it! Don't miss the 6 bucks a day on smokes either! You do get some funny looks though...people get all excited thinking that they can yell at you for smoking before they realize that you aren't.

[GeoLes]

For anyone who wants to make up after a big fight, there's always the e-peace pipe.

[ArtVandelay]

I'll say one thing about vaping for a while... Part of what makes me worry is how delicious it is... BUT, I've held it to a minimum, and last night I smoked a regular cigarette and found it disgusting. I think that's a good thing...?

[panbanger]

A couple regular cigs and you'll be hooked again! You get over how disgusting it is pretty quickly, trust me. I fell off the wagon a couple times while starting on e-cigs. The first one tastes like burning paper in your mouth (which it is, really), the second one not so much. The third one and you're off to buy a carton!

[CeKnauss]

I have never personally smoked, but I appreciate the people who smoke that use the e-cigs. The smell of traditional cigarettes really bothers me. It's also bothersome to those of us who don't smoke having to smell that burnt tobacco smell on a person all day long.

I respect people's right to smoke if they wish, but they should also respect my right to not have to smell it. As such, I am fine with people who use e-cigs.

Here's the part I don't totally understand. Of all habits to have, smoking is expensive and does nothing for a person beyond the nicotine high. It also costs a lot of money over time. $5 per pack as a rough average that I've seen. At a pack a day, that's $150 a month. I could buy a new bowling ball and get it drilled for that lol.

[GeoLes]

I have to agree. I experimented with cigarettes around age 15, but did not like it. I too have no problem with another person choosing to smoke. I just don't think it fair to have to walk through a cloud of smoke just to get into the mall, for example. I recall in Vegas renting a room on the non-smoking floor. I got off the elevator and to my chagrin there were 3 ladies smoking there. I wanted to pull the Carlynims.

"I don't mind of you smoke as long as you don't mind if I Fart"

As for smoking not making sense as an addiction, what addiction really makes sense in the first place. You should be able to pick something up of your own volition, and put it down when done. If yo can't put it down, you are addicted.

[billf]

I asked my doctor about Chantix. He said not for me. He won't prescribe it for anybody diagnosed with PTSD. Figures, the thing that could possibly help me kick that nasty habit has side effects that could be deadly.
He said it makes your dreams more realistic and given my issues with sleep and dreaming it's a combination that doesn't go together.

[ArtVandelay]

I have never personally smoked, but I appreciate the people who smoke that use the e-cigs. The smell of traditional cigarettes really bothers me. It's also bothersome to those of us who don't smoke having to smell that burnt tobacco smell on a person all day long.

I respect people's right to smoke if they wish, but they should also respect my right to not have to smell it. As such, I am fine with people who use e-cigs.


That's a benefit that I think most appreciate. There really isn't much of a smell, and the smell that it does have it not too far off from a regular humidifier (my sister used to need one back when we lived in Connecticut. I can't remember exactly why...). The studies they've done so far have stated the second hand effects aren't even a fraction of what cigarettes are, and the primary threat is any unabsorbed nicotine.


...there were 3 ladies smoking there. I wanted to pull the Carlynims.

"I don't mind of you smoke as long as you don't mind if I Fart"


That is so awesome! But I respect you for NOT saying it since it was women. I mean... You gotta at least give yourself a shot, right? hahahahaha.

[GoodGravy]

Just my 2 cents:

I love smoking. I don't smoke because I choose not to. Without getting on a soap box, smoking has been demonized in our society and at best you are considered a 'malcontent' if you light up. There are dozens of habits/behaviors out there that are just as deadly to your health (and that of others) that are completely acceptable (hello birthday party at McDonalds...). That is not to say that smoking is not a significant health hazard, but it is funny to me that it has become such a huge issue.

Nobody can say that they don't understand the implications of smoking anymore, so if you are so inclined and are an adult, smoke 'em if you got 'em!

[the_halfie]

I quit cold turkey a few years back, and every once in a while I still have cravings. I was never a HEAVY smoker, but my pops and ma sure were. She recently quit cold turkey been off the smokes for over a year now, and my pop switched over to the e-cigs. While I can't say what type of negative effects they have in the long run, I can tell you this, he went from hacking up a lung every night after smoking his cigarettes, to hardly ever coughing at all! I consider that in the WIN column. I'm just lucky that the cigs are so expensive now, keeps me from wanting to go back lol.