Kicking the Tobacco Habit
by Dr. Ron Cherubino

Most people who have never been addicted to tobacco find it difficult to relate to those people who are.  At various times in my life I have been addicted to cigarettes, pipes and/or cigars.  Tobacco is such a health hazard that I am obviously delighted to be free of that monkey on my back.  I certainly don't miss the carcinogens, the stink, the fear, the sneakiness and the dependence.  The part that I do miss is the comfort derived from the act of smoking.

One of the areas of alternative treatment that we offer at the Cherubino Health Center is smoking cessation.  Over the past 20 years or so we have developed some extremely effective methods that have worked wonders in helping people kick the habit.  In my experience it is usually easier for people to give up the addiction to the nicotine than it is to give up the pleasures of puffing and holding something in their hand. 

About a year ago I was listening to an interview on the radio with the head of an organization made up of physicians against tobacco. The medical doctor being interviewed mentioned that there were better delivery systems (than tobacco) for nicotine.  The amount of carcinogens and other poisons, the degree of cellular damage from hot smoke touching delicate epithelial cells in the mouth, the throat and the lungs, is a pretty pathetic way to get nicotine into your bloodstream.  After all, the nicotine may be harmful but it's detrimental effects pale in comparison to inhaling the smoke from a burning leaf.  The better delivery system that the doctor was talking about is what has come to be known as e-smoking.

Is it safe?

I am starting to get more and more questions from listeners and patients concerning electronic smoking.  The number one question is -- "is it safe?"
Frankly, since electronic smoking has only been around for a short period of time, there is no way to assess its long-term effects.  All we can do is deduce and theorize as to its potentially negative effects.  Its positive effects, however, rests mainly and predominately in the fact that one is avoiding all of the negatives of smoking tobacco.

How does it work?

It works in a similar manner to a smoke machine that is used on stage during a concert or other performance.  Propylene glycol, a petroleum product, is atomized in an atomization chamber and made into a mist.  With an electronic cigarette, propylene glycol has a certain percentage of nicotine and flavoring added and can be puffed and/or inhaled through an electronic gadget that looks like a traditional cigarette, cigar or pipe.  It is also possible to obtain the propylene glycol with no nicotine added for those people who would like the pleasure of smoking without the drug attached to it.
As far as providing a way of getting off of tobacco and the nicotine that it yields, electronic smoking devices can provide a controlled amount of nicotine without all of the other baggage (poisons and carcinogens).  Another advantage is that the amount of nicotine is controlled and can be reduced as desired in order to kick the habit once and for all.  And as I said before, puffing on zero nicotine propylene glycol can be a satisfying activity for those who like the feeling of smoking without the dangers of tobacco and the drug properties of nicotine.

Where can I find electronic cigarettes?

I am told that one needs to be careful where they buy their products and I can certainly think that makes sense.  You can imagine the size of the market and the amount of people that would potentially benefit from electronic smoking devices.  Based on my personal research, I recommend a place called SmokeAnywhere.com -- www.smokeanywhere.com has come highly recommended to me from a number of sources and I have spoken with its owner personally.
I have looked in on several forums and found complaints involving European and Chinese companies whose products have been shoddy, faulty, or worse yet not sent after customers had paid for them.