FAKE CIGARETTES? REALLY NOW?

There are "cigarettes" out there designed to "look" and otherwise impersonate a real cigarette. They are called electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) and are battery powered. How ideal. They do not produce smoke and their manufacturer claims that they have no known carcinogens while offering the person who wants to quit smoking an alternative. The smokes are less expensive. A vapor is produced which "sort of" looks like smoke and the e-cigarette manufacturer contends that it offers a "true" smoking experience. But, alas, when the smoker inhales, they still get a dose of nicotine (and some other chemicals) into their lungs. This is a cigarette that will help a smoker quit. Really now?



Trying to find scientific research about these reportedly "safe" alternative smoking devices is difficult as usually these so-called "renegade" products have no scientific data to support their value. Hence, nothing reputable can be found on the internet to support the value of e-cigs. The World Health Organization (WHO) has stated that these devices may indeed create more smokers, and that they are not a legitimate therapy for smokers trying to quit. Dr. Jack Henningfield, an expert on addiction, says that some manufacturers blatantly go after young people when advertising e-cigarettes with flavors like chocolate and candy. Ouch! How bad is that? Sounds like Big Tobacco to me.



Nearly all of these devices are manufactured in China and are not regulated by the FDA because they are not listed as "drugs." The patch and nicotine gum are regulated by the FDA as they are considered a drug. The FDA does not have a perfect track record when it comes to evaluating products. However, at least they do evaluate drugs, etc., so we have some protection from being harmed.



The FDA has issued a ban on these devices as they "constitute an unapproved drug-delivery system" (which is being challenged in court). Oh, what these companies will do to get us addicted to their products is unbelievable.



I would not recommend this product to anyone trying to quit smoking. First, the product contains "other chemicals", and second, it contains nicotine which is the addictive component of anything legal that you smoke. My third reason is that they are made in China. Over the last couple of years, China has produced baby and children's products containing lead and dog and cat food containing lead and a plastic-type substance used to make melamine dinnerware. The plastic-containing pet foods were recalled but not before they killed several pets. As for the lead in children's toys and other children's products, these were also recalled. However, I recommend that toys made in China be seriously scrutinized before being sold to the general public. Is China trying to poison us or what? We should be wary of anything coming from China if it's edible or if there's a chance that a child will put it into their mouth.



In conclusion, the jury is still out on the e-cigarette. This product should not be allowed on the market until it has been deemed safe. I always recommend cold turkey, but not everyone is able to accomplish this. So, the patch or gum is good, but only for a short period of time. There are now laser treatments and the old standby, hypnosis. Smoking withdrawal clinics are a very good choice as well. Join others who are quitting. You don't feel like you're the only one in the world going through withdrawl. Always remember that nicotine is nicotine in whatever form it appears, and you can just as easily become addicted to a patch or a stick of gum.

Do You Like Money?

It's been a while since I last wrote. It's been a long summer. Now, it's time to get back to work. Here is a link that will help you figure out how much smoking costs you. http://bit.ly/sjj5J. Back when I quit, I added up how much I had spent throughout my years of smoking. I could have paid cash for a house. Now, with the cost of cigarettes very high, I can't imagine what I would have burned up. So, I ask you to figure it out for yourself. Sometimes just seeing the cost of something that is absolutely not necessary to sustain life will encourage a person to finally kick the habit. This would be my hope.

In the meantime, check out Commit To Quit on Facebook. Make a commitment to quit. Put your name on the wall. Become a fan, and encourage others to give it a try. I know, there are always those who "say" they don't want to quit smoking. I've lost relatives who "claimed" they did not want to quit. They died as a result of their smoking. My mother is 92 and does not smoke. Her sister died at age 79. She was a heavy smoker. She had emphysema and other health issues related to smoking. My mother misses her sister very much, but her sister chose to continue smoking.

My next post will talk about the new fake cigarettes? Are they safe? Should you use them? Are they just another habit? Find out.