E-cigarettes can help you butt out

Sep 13, 2013 | News

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A man takes a drag from an e-cigarette. (Courtesy WikiCommons)

A new study in The Lancet medical journal states that e-cigarette smokers are just as likely to kick the habit as their nicotine patch-wearing counterparts.

However, according to the Canadian Lung Association, electronic devices used to quit smoking “are not an approved quit smoking aid by either Health Canada or the U.S. Federal Drug Administration.”

Among the quit smoking aids approved by the Canadian Lung Association are the nicotine patch, gum, lozenges and inhalers.

Dustin Kennedy, a representative of Esmoker Canada, a Canadian e-cigarette supplier. “E-cigarettes are a nicotine free alternative to smoking real cigarettes. However, they are completely different from using the patch as a method to quit smoking.”

Kennedy said he would recommend using the patch as well as the e-cigarette as the most effective way to quit smoking.

Geoffrey Anderson, 34, a contractor working all over Toronto and surrounding areas has been smoking since he was 14. About ten years ago Anderson had sinus problems and decided to quit smoking — cold turkey.

An e-cigarette (Curtsey of Wiki Commons)

An e-cigarette (Curtsey of Wiki Commons)

“It was easy because I was unwell,” said Anderson.

“I needed to do it.”

He quit for just over two years and then one day picked up the habit again. He has tried to quit smoking since by using the Nicorette inhaler cigarettes but said, “they didn’t cut the urge.”

“It wasn’t like holding a cigarette,” he says.

When the need comes to quit again he said he will try laser or acupuncture, but doesn’t think the e-cigarette is for him.

“Different people have different coping mechanisms,” said Dr. Lenore Duquette, Associate Dean, Nursing at Humber College school of Health Sciences.

Duquette said people have different motivations, the ability to quit depends on the person.

Duquette knows someone who has used the electronic cigarette to quit smoking but it didn’t work.

“Though, he does smoke less now,” said Duquette.

With files from Sarah Stinchcombe.