Can vaping help you quit smoking? Ask the millions that have done so.
Vaping isn’t the perfect solution for everyone. However, if you equip yourself with the right knowledge and understanding, your chances to quit cigarettes with vaping can be successful.
A majority of smokers in the U.S. want to quit smoking, but only 3-6% are successful in quitting cold turkey. Studies have reported that it can take up to 30 or more attempts before you can successfully stop. A testament to how difficult it is to quit smoking.
In the article we’ll cover the following to assist you on your journey:
Can Vaping Help You Quit Smoking?
The current research on vaping being a useful smoking cessation tool have mixed results. Many of the studies available are not generalizable to the population level due to inaccurate reporting.
However, there ARE some important findings found in several studies:
- E-cigarettes may have the potential to help with smoking cessation or reduction, but the evidence is limited due to the lack of quality studies.
- There is moderate evidence that prolonged use of e-cigarettes will increase the likelihood of smoking cessation.
- The type of vaping device you use matters because some devices are more efficient at delivering nicotine.
- The likelihood of quitting is decreased when smokers are using vaping in times/places where smoking is not allowed. Think stealth vaping while still smoking the same amount of cigarettes.
If you are trying to quit smoking with vape, there are three possible outcomes:
- Quitting Cigarettes (29.8% of vapers in the U.S.) - completely switching to vaping
- Dual Users (58.8% of vapers in the U.S.) - reducing amount of cigarette smoked or smoking the same amount of cigarettes while vaping
- Relapse - vaped for a while but went back to smoking and stopped vaping completely.
In England, 52% of vapers are former smokers and 40% of people who try to stop smoking use e-cigarettes. Studies may not be able to generalize, but if vaping has helped 30% of smokers in the U.S. quit smoking, vaping may work for you.
The main point here is that you should try everything you can to quit smoking. If you don't want to try vaping, there are smoking cessation products approved by the FDA known as nicotine replacement therapy (NRT):
- Nicotine Gum
- Nicotine Patches
- Nicotine Inhaler
- Nicotine Nose Spray
- Nicotine Lozenges
The success rate for NRTs have been touted by the pharmaceutical industry as high as 50% in randomized trials, but despite the impressive effectiveness of NRT’s, the quit rate at the population level has not improved.
Keep in mind. It’s entirely possible that you can quit without any cessation products at all. Researchers have found that up to 75% of smokers have quit unaided or cold turkey. So, don't give up!
If you’re still interested in quitting cigarettes with vaping, you have to be aware that quitting is no easy feat. It takes commitment, discipline, knowledge, and understanding to ensure a successful transition from smoking to vaping. But knowing some of the difference of vaping versus smoking can easily give you more incentive to finally give it up for good.
How To Quit Smoking With Vaping!
Nicotine is a highly addictive substance in tobacco products, and this is why quitting cigarettes is difficult. Many wrongly assume that nicotine in cigarettes is what causes cancer, but what causes serious damage to your lungs is inhaling the burning tobacco and the additives in your cigarettes.
What vaping does is it allows you to inhale nicotine by heating the e-juice to produce vapor. Not only do you satisfy your nicotine cravings, but you are also getting the smoking sensation called a vape throat hit that many smokers have become accustomed to. This is why many smokers have chosen e-cigarettes or other vaping devices over other nicotine replacement products.
There are two outcomes of using vape to quit smoking:
- Quitting nicotine
- Quit smoking cigarettes
If you are trying to get rid of your nicotine addiction, your ultimate goal is to use vaping as a means to wean off nicotine altogether.
You can accomplish this by slowly tapering off your nicotine level to 0 mg e-juice which has no nicotine. By doing so, you can get the smoking sensation without getting any nicotine, and eventually, you can quit vaping altogether.
If you cannot quit your nicotine addiction, your goal is to use vaping to replace your smoking habits. To get to that point, you will have to first feel comfortable vaping when your friends are smoking a cigarette.
It will take a while to get to that point. You’ll begin to notice how bad cigarettes smell, and if you do take a drag for example from your friend’s cigarette, you’ll realize how nasty cigarettes taste.
Remember, the transition to entirely quitting cigarettes will take time and don’t be too hard on yourself if you relapse. As long as you stay committed, and you don’t give up, you’ll be alright! Slip-ups are a-okay as long as you get back on track!
If you’re serious about vaping, here’s what you need to know to start vaping:
Vaping Device
Vaping devices are often referred to as a vape or an e-cigarette, and there are different types of vapes out there.
For starters, it is recommended that you either get a sub-ohm device or a pod mod.
and of course...
Vape Juice
Vape juice is also referred as e-juice or e-liquid, and this is what you will put in your vaping device to vaporize the nicotine.
What you will need to know is that there are two kinds of vape juice:
1) Regular e-juice or freebase nicotine
2) Nicotine salts (Recommended)
Nicotine salts or nic salts are high nicotine strength e-juice designed specifically for vape pods. Nic salts are the closest vaping experience to smoking a cigarette due to a special nicotine formulation.
Nicotine Level
Choosing the correct nicotine level is critical if you want to quit smoking successfully.
- For regular e-juice, the common nicotine level on the market is 0 mg, 3 mg, 6 mg, and 12 mg.
- For nicotine salts, the common nicotine level ranges anywhere from 25 mg to 50 mg.
Side Effects of Vaping
Lastly, it’s important to understand the causes of vaping side effects so you can better your vaping experience. Many of the side effects are avoidable and are related to vaping too much nicotine or due to dehydration.
Should I Make the Switch?
If you want to quit nicotine addiction, the best course of action for you is to quit cold turkey. There are many ways you can methodically achieve this such as cutting down on how much you smoke per day.
If quitting cold turkey sounds like a stretch to you, you can use the weaning method, and you can cut down your nicotine level over time.
If you have tried quitting nicotine or you want to substitute your smoking habits, vaping may be a good fit for you.
The decision is up to you and if you want to start your vaping journey, educating yourself on the vaping lifestyle will help you ensure a successful transition. Good luck and don’t give up!
If you are already vape, share your experience with us to help your fellow smokers! Any tips or advice would help immensely!
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