Freedom to Choose

Up to seven days ago, I was not free. I was a slave to my cigarette addiction. For over 30 years, I have fed this addiction with one brand of cigarettes, a pack a day. Seven days ago, I tried E cigarettes and within that first day, I smoked 80% fewer cigarettes. On day six, I was 100% cigarette free. With the variety of e-juices out there and levels of nicotine, I have a taste of freedom in my system. Freedom is a powerful mind-altering experience, one which bolsters self esteem, eradicates limited thinking, nurtures the spirit, and inspires the weak willed. E cigarettes have been the catalyst to this positive change towards health, wellness, and freedom from addiction. I would like to see regulations that hold people in this growing industry accountable for listing ingredients on packaging, clear warnings that nicotine is addictive, and to restrict sale of these products to those under 16. I chose to smoke at age 14 and was addicted by age 16. I have a young daughter and know she may try vaping not cigarettes when she is a teenager. I would not want her to be a slave to an addiction, and at the very least, e cig allow you to choose your nicotine level. I would like the FDA to focus their time and energy on assuring those nicotine levels are accurate on e juices in the market and that the various delivery devices are restricted from use in indoor public places unless duly noted in the establishment. I think e cig users need to be respectful of others when using these products. In the future, I would like to see clear information on all delivery devices with regards to how much nicotine their device emits on average in inhaled and exhaled vapour, so consumers are more informed and can be more accountable in their choices of where and which products to use. Having the choice of nicotine levels in e juice and assurance that those levels are accurate will help me in attaining my goal of being 100% nicotine free and a responsible e-cigarette user. On a final note, I would like to say that I have tried other products that are fully regulated as a smoking cessation tool. Warnings and instructions were clearly written on the labels as to contents, possible side effects etc. I understand not everyone uses e-cigarettes as a smoking cessation tool, but for those of us that do, this is the level of accountability I would like to see from this growing industry. In fact, I would demand it of the alcohol and tobacco industry as well! Why aren’t the ingredients of cigarettes listed clearly on the package? They don’t even tell you how many mgs of nicotine are in each cancer stick! Ironically, none of this information is of interest to a cigarette addict, until they are trying to quit. Please count my voice as one of those who has successfully quit smoking using an e-cigarette product.