About 17 million Americans attempt to quit smoking each year, according to HealthEffectsofSmoking.org, but only about 1.3 million are able to stay smoke-free. In a 2007 article published on Britain's Daily Mail website, John Britton, the chairman of a tobacco advisory group, explained that too much effort goes into preventing new smokers and getting smokers to quit completely. For those who can't quit, certain safer alternative products can satisfy their addiction.
Electronic Cigarettes
An electronic cigarette is a battery-powered device shaped much like a cigarette that gives off a vaporized dose of nicotine when you inhale. They can be used as smoking cessation devices or as alternatives to tobacco products that emit secondhand smoke, and can also be used in places where smoking cigarettes is banned.
In an article published by CNN.com, Dr. Thomas Eissenberg explains that e-cigarettes deliver nicotine as effectively as a cigarette. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, since some research suggests that people are not becoming hooked on the devices. In a 2009 survey conducted by Karyn Heavner of the University of Alberta, School of Public Health in Canada, 304 people trying to quit cigarettes indicated that they were able to use the devices as a replacement for tobacco smoking. In addition, their sense of taste and smell, as well as their general health, had improved since quitting cigarettes and using the nicotine vapor devices.
Snus
Snus is a smokeless, oral tobacco product that has been popular in Sweden for many decades. You place snus under your lip and it releases a low dose of nicotine into your bloodstream. Snus is available as a loose powder or in small bags that hold about a pinch of the loose, moist powder. According to a 2007 press release issued by "The Lancet," snus is less harmful to your health than smoking tobacco. There's no increased risk for lung or mouth cancer for people who use snus but have never smoked cigarettes. Dr. Coral Gartner from the University of Queensland in Australia found that life expectancy for smokers who switched to snus was similar to the life expectancy of those who quit tobacco products altogether.
Gum and Lozenges
Nicotine gum and lozenges, as well as similar nicotine replacement products, work by delivering a small amount of nicotine into your bloodstream to help you manage withdrawal symptoms brought on by quitting tobacco, according to MayoClinic.com. Gum and lozenges used as nicotine replacement therapy, known as NRT, do not contain most of the harmful chemicals known and believed to cause cancer. NRT does have its downside, however: it may increase your risk for developing diabetes, and long-term use of NRTs have been linked to some incidences of cancer. There is very little to no abuse potential with products used to help you quit smoking, including nicotine inhalers. Nicotine from cigarettes is addictive because it's delivered rapidly into your system. But nicotine from NRTs is gradually absorbed into your bloodstream, according to a 2006 article published in the Australian journal "Pharmacist."
References
- CNN: Electronic Cigarettes Don't Deliver
- Tobacco Harm Reduction: ElectronicTobaccoHarmReduction.org: Electronic Cigarettes as Potential Tobacco Harm Reduction Products: Results of an Online Survey of e-Cigarette Users ts of an online survey of e-cigarette users
- Health Effects of Smoking: How Many People Quit Smoking Each Year
- Daily Mail: Heavy Smokers Need More Help to Quit
- School of Public Health: Swedish Snus Much Safer Than Smoking But Lined to Pancreatic Cancer
