A Godsend

I started smoking later than most, at the age of 28. From year 1 to year 25, I smoked about the same amount, between 1/2 to 3/4 pack per day. I loved to smoke, but of course I knew and was distressed about the health implications, being beyond deadly. I did quit once for about 9 months with the help of Chantix (no other smoking cessation product, either prescription or over the counter helped me at all except for Chantix, in fact the rest all failed miserably) but once off the Chantix I found an excuse to start again…that time when your brain tells you “Just One Cigarette Won’t Hurt”. When I heard about vaping I walked into a shop where I live in Las Vegas, and decided to give it a try. Besides the folks being extremely enthusiastic about their product, their instructions to me were extremely comprehensive. I tried various flavors until I found one of my liking and, to make this story to the point, on day one of vaping I smoked 4 cigarettes. Day 2, 2 cigarettes. Day 3, 2 cigarettes. From day 4 on, I haven’t touched, or even wanted to touch a tobacco cigarette. I taste food again, I smell flowers again, and I don’t smell stale smoke on my clothes, hair or fingers anymore. My teeth are white. My one and only regret is that vaping wasn’t around 25 years ago…I am a success story. 1-1/2 years and counting with NO craving at ALL for tobacco cigarettes. And by the way, my nicotine level ranges from ZERO to .6, which I’m told is the equivalent of the lowest ultra-light cigarette you can find. In learning as much as possible about the relative newness of vaping, the prevailing information I’ve been reading, and the fact that surprised me the most is that nicotine, by itself, is no more harmful for you than caffeine…a mild stimulant and addictive. I am grateful for this wonderful choice we have been given! FDA, please don’t make us choose to return to cancer and COPD, let us keep our vape! Thank you!