The addictive nature of nicotine is one of the reasons why it is so hard to quit smoking. People have tried different ways of quitting including nicotine replacement therapy, medications that make quitting easier, quitting cold turkey and even vaping. Although each of these methods has a certain level of success, vaping is becoming one of the more popular ways of quitting. While it is true vaping has not been approved officially as a way of quitting, it is still a safer way of delivering nicotine than tobacco. But, what are the other ways of quitting and how do they compare to vaping?
Quitting Cold Turkey
Quitting cold turkey is when a smoker suddenly stops smoking without switching to any alternatives. Cold turkey is extremely difficult because of the withdrawal symptoms as well as the social nature of smoking that most smokers are used to. These social situations provide a lot of temptation which is a primary reason why many people who quit cold turkey go back to smoking.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
The nicotine a smoker gets from smoking is replaced by other sources of nicotine. These can include patches, lozenges, gums, mouth sprays and inhalers. These products ensure a smoker gets their nicotine buzz without smoking and can be purchased from pharmacies, online, supermarkets or from services that support people who are looking to quit.
Nicotine replacement products are not a magic cure and this is why people who are using these products to quit need additional support. This is mainly so they do not get into situations that tempt them to smoke and learn how to cope with situations that would have led them to smoking in the past.
Medication
If you want to quit cold turkey, your chances can increase exponentially if you use medications that lessen the severity of your withdrawal symptoms. These medicines are not part of nicotine replacement therapy. As with other ways of quitting discussed above, there is a need for additional support to get through some of the more difficult days and to increase the chances of successfully quitting.
Vaping
Besides its addictive nature, quitting is also difficult because it is a habit that has to be broken. Vaping helps smokers keep routines like taking cigarette breaks and socializing while smoking, all without the other toxins that come from smoking.
Ultimately, it is the amount of nicotine in the vape juice that makes it easier to switch from smoking to vaping. Smokers still get that familiar nicotine buzz without having to experience the symptoms of withdrawal that quitting cold turkey comes with.
Then, there are e-liquids that come with different amounts of nicotine. A former smoker or nicotine addict can gradually reduce the amount of nicotine in their vape juice until they transition completely to a nicotine free e-liquid. Once they get to this point, they can then work on changing the habit of lighting up and puffing away. You are also able to buy vaporizers in bulk.
Why Vaping Is the Preferred Option
Many of the methods you can use to quit focus on replacing nicotine, so you no longer smoke, or minimizing the severity of your withdrawal symptoms; many of them do not address other aspects of smoking. These include the satisfaction of holding a cigarette and smoking it as well as the social aspects of smoking. Vaping addresses all these while still providing an alternative source of nicotine.
In a study published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the result showed that e-cigarettes were twice as effective as nicotine replacement therapy in helping people quit smoking.
Long-Term Planning
Vaping can form part of your long-term strategy to quit smoking. After that, you need to think about quitting vaping too. When doing this, stay on vapes until you no longer feel the need to pick up a cigarette. When you are completely sure you will not go back to smoking, you can then start tapering off vaping.
The first step in doing this is gradually reducing the nicotine content of the e-liquid you use. Eventually, you will be vaping without nicotine. Next, you should work on changing your habits. This is the harder part because it is difficult to let go of the social and behavioural aspect of smoking. But if you understand why you are quitting and are committed to it, it will make things a lot easier.
Conclusion
Quitting smoking is extremely difficult especially for those who have been smoking for a long time. Although finding help is a great place to start, smokers should also explore other ways of doing so. From nicotine replacement therapy to vaping, there are several options available as discussed above.