E-cigarettes as good as nicotine patches in helping smokers quit

[Live and Learn]

Source: Reuters

LONDON (Reuters) - Smokers who switch to electronic cigarettes to try to kick their habit are at least as likely to succeed in quitting or cutting down as users of nicotine patches, according to research published on Sunday.

In a first-of-its-kind study, researchers compared electronic, or e-cigarettes, with the more standard nicotine replacement therapy patches.

They found levels of success were comparable, with e-cigarettes - whose effects are a subject of intense debate among health experts - more likely to help smokers who fail to quit cut the amount of tobacco they use.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/e-cigarettes-good-nicotine-patches-helping-smokers-quit-220346477.html

[Spitfire of ATJ]

1. Watch the price triple with this news.

[bitchkitty]

3. Even if the price tripled,

It would still be cheaper for me to buy e-cigs and cartridges. I spend about $25-$30 a month on vaping supplies, as opposed to $125-150 on tobacco to cover my once pack-a-day habit.

AND I can breathe now. Breathing is a beautiful thing! Not to mention my hair, fingers and clothes no longer stink of tobacco.

[msongs]

2. plus they are being sold to teens to get em hooked on nicotine w/out smoking :-) nt

[bitchkitty]

4. Do you have a reference for that statement,

that "they are being sold to teens to get em hooked?"

[onehandle]

6. Health experts say the devices are being marketed to youths, putting them at risk for addiction.

Electronic cigarettes growing in popularity with teens - latimes.com

One out of 10 American high school students used electronic cigarettes in 2012, along with nearly 3% of middle school students, according to a new federal report. That's about double the rate of e-cigarette use in 2011 and translates into 1.78 million children and teens who have tried the battery-powered devices.

The sharp increase has public health experts worried. Electronic cigarettes contain the addictive chemical nicotine and traces of cancer-causing compounds called nitrosamines. The safety profile of the devices has not been fully studied, according to warnings from the Food and Drug Administration.

In addition, e-cigarettes are sold with cartridges that give them enticing flavors such as mint or chocolate, and health advocates fear they have the potential to turn teens on to regular cigarettes.

"The increased use of e-cigarettes by teens is deeply troubling," Dr. Tom Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said in a statement. "Many teens who start with e-cigarettes may be condemned to struggling with a lifelong addiction to nicotine and conventional cigarettes."

http://www.latimes.com/science/la-sci-e-cigarettes-20130906,0,2387959.story

Same old story...

[snappyturtle]

8. Still better than the real thing. Coulda, woulda, shoulda

whatever. They're talking about statistics that don't exist.

The anti-smoking mob is never satisfied. When people try to quit and
abide by the draconian rules in place, It's STILL not good
enough. This thread has been hijacked. The OP is about quitting
smoking via the use of e-cigarettes not ILLEGAL selling to teenagers.

[bitchkitty]

15. Maybe, but...

I don't think that flavored liquids for ecigs can be considered marketing to kids. They do have flavors like chocolate mint and birthday cake but hell, I'm 58 and I love chocolate, mint and cake!

If a company is found to be marketing to children, then they should be shut down. I haven't seen it with my vendor.

[kurtzapril4]

23. My vendor has 1400 flavors.

From cotton candy to bacon to caramel macchiato to pizza. You are not even allowed it the store if you are under 18, and they take IDs at the door.

[bitchkitty]

24. Caramel macchiato? Mmmmmmmmm! n/t

[blogslut]

11. Don't bother.

That person has made their mind up that e-cigs are bad - as has the other person in this thread.

[bitchkitty]

14. Looks pretty much that way.

Although if they are being marketed to kids, that should certainly stop. I haven't noticed my vendor doing anything shady in regard to marketing.

[awoke_in_2003]

18. They aren't being marketed to kids...

That is BS originated by people who stand to loae drom e cig sale (tobacco companies) Just where are you seeing these commercials anyway?

[onehandle]

5. Kids' Use Of Electronic Cigarettes Doubles

The percentage of middle and high school students who have tried electronic cigarettes more than doubled in a year, federal health officials reported Thursday.

The percentage of students in grades 6 through 12 who had ever used e-cigarettes increased from 3.3 percent in 2011 to 6.8 percent in 2012, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Those who reported currently using the devices increased from 1.1 percent to 2.1 percent.

Based on the numbers, the CDC estimates that 1.78 million middle and high school students nationwide have tried e-cigarettes.

"The increased use of e-cigarettes by teens is deeply troubling," CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said in a statement.

http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2013/09/04/219097263/kids-use-of-electronic-cigarettes-doubles

[Live and Learn]

7. And, as the articles state, the manufacturers deny it.

They are no more marketing to kids than the manufacturers of sweet and candy flavored alcohol are. The fact is, many if not most adults like candy too.

The articles also doesn't state that more kids are smoking them than would have smoked cigarettes anyway. Kids that only vape will be a lot better off than those that smoke cigarettes and kids have always smoked cigarettes.

Go ahead and make them illegal to sell to kids in the few if any states that still allow it. I for one haven't seen much marketing at all for the ejuice flavors but if that is a problem make it illegal to advertize them on television. That should be enough regulation.

The fact is ecigs save lives.

[HumansAndResources]

10. Why Not Ban ALL Drug-Advertising ?? Big Pharma Too !!

BigPharma spends more on advertising than R&D. And Beer isn't exactly a "social benefit" - right? But let adults do whatever they want in private.

[independentpiney]

12. bullshit

[Politicalboi]

9. But what about

The children.

[onehandle]

13. And as usual, it's all about them. No concern about how the smoke affects those around them.

Yes, it's still smoke:

Synonyms for smoke:
exhaust, fog, gas, mist, pollution, smog, soot, vapor

[Live and Learn]

17. Fog, Mist, Vapor?? Are you joking?

Or are you planning to sue mother nature?

[onehandle]

25. I was clearly talking about composition, but nice try. nt

[Live and Learn]

28. The composition of what? Surely, not smoke.

Smoke and fog, mist or vapor have absolutely nothing in common.

[onehandle]

31. Let's say you were downwind of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant...

And smoke, or fog, or mist, or vapor rolled in from there.

I guess you would have no doubt whatsoever that a 'vapor' was totally harmless and stand your ground.

[Live and Learn]

33. You'd be in the same danger without the fog or mist.

I really urge you to study a bit of science.

[awoke_in_2003]

19. You're one of those rabid anti-smokers, aren't you?...

I know the type- you see someone 100 ft away from you , and downwind, smoking and you start coughing.

[onehandle]

26. Worse. I'm an anti-urban pollution activist.

Recently they banned smoking in parks near here. It has been proposed that e-cigs be defined as smoking devices, largely thanks to me.

[Live and Learn]

30. In that case, I urge you to take some science classes

so that you will know exactly what you are trying to ban and if it makes any sense. Unless of course, you just don't care and harassing others is your prime motivation.

[d_r]

32. thats really a shame

there are a lot of people walking around addicted to cigarettes. There was generations of advertising and corporate investment in promoting that addiction. It is a serious health risk. It results in the death and suffering of millions. It is a terrible addiction. This very thread is about findings that e-cig devices help people break that addiction. Progressives should be in favor of helping people break this addiction. It seems very short sighted to try to ban this smoking cessation product in any setting.

[awoke_in_2003]

36. Thank you...

I am 45, and have smoked pack a day since I was 16. First week with e cig I smoked a pack. Second week I had 2. Third week none. I can breathe and taste better now. Some people just want to piss on others.

[Comrade Grumpy]

39. I'm glad I don't have officious busybodies for neighbors.

[awoke_in_2003]

41. Some people have no life....

so they make it a point to fuck other prople's up

[kurtzapril4]

22. Because it DOESN'T affect anyone around them.

All they're exhaling is water vapor. I guess you don't go outside if it's foggy? There's no fire, so there's no smoke. You cannot have smoke if there isn't a fire. In addition, there's no tobacco.

As far as this crap about advertising to children....BS. Adults like flavours, too. I've seen no advertising for vape marketed to children. Right now, I'm vaping vanilla custard with a touch of cinnamon. It's yummy!

Rabid anti-smokers. Ugh.

[onehandle]

27. LOL! nt

[Live and Learn]

34. This really isn't a laughing matter.

Your efforts may be killing people by banning an if not perfectly safe then at least a much less harmful substitute.

[Comrade Grumpy]

38. You better stay in your closet.

[RandiFan1290]

16. This makes the tobacco companies and their share holders sad

That is why you see so much hysterical backlash against them

I quit over a year ago with the patches

[PearliePoo2]

20. I have lots of friends who use e-cigs...with more converting all the time!

You can buy the vape juice with varying amounts of nicotine, including down to 0 (zero).
To a person, everyone I know has gradually reduced the amount of nicotine in the e-liquid when they buy their refills.
One guy I know is using zero nicotine now but he still likes and enjoys the flavor (coffee in his instance) and the really important "hand to mouth" mechanical habit.
Did I mention THERE'S E-JUICE AVALABLE WITH (0) ZERO NICOTINE?

[JohnnyRingo]

21. It worked for my son

He's been tobacco free for about nine months now. He still hits his e-smoke now and then, but it's better than what he was doing before. I think just having it in his pocket gives him peace of mind during his ordeal.

I've had people tell me I should be able to quit cold turkey, that that they stopped bad habits like eating chocolate cake, and that was a snap. When I mention that they would be equally fine without their coffee, their expression changes noticably to one of dread, they just never considered that a drug.

[Skittles]

35. I quit cold turkey - seven times

I would have tried e-cigs if they had been available, for sure

and I will NEVER give up coffee

[primavera]

37. I think it's different for everyone

My father, who was less a human being than a walking collection of logic circuits, was able to quit cold turkey. My mother, who had a much more addictive personality and suffered from depression for most of her life, tried countless times to quit, but never succeeded. I always think it's rather heartless when militant anti-smokers dismiss the difficulties of smoking cessation. Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances on the planet, right up there with heroin; it's never easy to break the habit, even for very strong-willed individuals. For less strong-willed people, it can be virtually impossible to quit.

[Marrah_G]

29. I think they are better

[Mosby]

40. nicotine comes in different forms

The nicotine in cigs has been free_based, just like crack cocaine. Malboro developed this in the 60s so they could make a lighter cig and still deliver the same amount of nicotine. This type of nicotine is highly addictive.

The nicotine in ecigs and NRTs is different, it's about as addictive as caffeine, which is why NRTs work. They allow a smoker to replace the highly addictive nicotine in cigs with a form of nicotine that is not habit forming.