Unsmoke your
Quit entirely, if you don’t though, then what?
The best way to Unsmoke your world is to quit cigarettes and nicotine for good.
But if you don’t quit, then what? Why should Australian adult smokers be denied access to less harmful alternatives that are helping others around the world give up smoking?
The best decision
is to quit entirely
Quitting is a very personal experience, but you are not alone. There’s no one way that works for everyone.
A good way to start is to get as much information as you can, and decide on a plan that’s right for you.
Many people who quit smoking, do it without professional help, on their own or with the support of family and friends. Others quit with professional help, such as counselling, and some smokers quit by using cessation aids, such as patches or gum.
What Are the
Alternative Options to Smoking?
The most well-known alternatives to continued smoking are e-cigarettes, which involve inhaling a nicotine vapour created by heating a liquid.
There are also heated tobacco devices. Like the name suggests, they heat tobacco to a temperature that releases a nicotine-containing vapour that the user then inhales.
By not burning tobacco, e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products don’t create smoke and their aerosols contain fewer and lower levels of harmful chemicals compared to cigarette smoke. These products however, are not risk-free, and they contain nicotine, which is addictive.
E-cigarettes
In the simplest terms, cigarettes burn tobacco to release nicotine while e-cigarettes heat a liquid to produce a vapour.
What are e-cigarettes?
There are three types of e-cigarette devices. The earliest, cig-a-likes, resemble real cigarettes, the ends usually light up. Vape pens look like long pens and come in a range of styles; while advanced personal vaporizers, or “vape mods,” are bigger devices that you can modify, e.g. by adding a larger liquid chamber.
How do e-cigarettes work?
Broadly speaking, all three types of e-cigarettes include a rechargeable battery and a heating element. A disposable cartridge is then inserted that holds the e-liquid, which produces the vapour that’s inhaled.
The vast majority of e-cigarette liquids and their vapours include nicotine.
However, e-cigarettes sold lawfully in Australia, do not currently contain nicotine, as nicotine containing e-cigarettes are illegal to sell, even though they are less harmful than cigarettes.
Heated Tobacco
Heated tobacco devices are based on the concept of heating tobacco to temperatures well below those reached by a burning cigarette. This releases a vapour containing nicotine and flavours, eliminating the smoke altogether.
What is heated tobacco?
It's tobacco that is processed in a different way, as it needs to be uniformly heated to work correctly. Products that heat tobacco rather than burn it, first appeared in the 1990s.
However, a new generation of research-led products is now available, albeit not currently in Australia.
By heating the tobacco, these products still produce nicotine and tobacco flavour but with much lower levels of harmful or potentially harmful chemicals.
How does a heated tobacco device work?
A tobacco stick is usually inserted into a hollow, electronic heated tobacco device. The device has its own battery, which heats the tobacco until it releases the vapour. This vapour is then inhaled. Once used, the stick is discarded, and the device recharged.
Nicotine replacement therapy
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) is the delivery of nictoine to the bloodstream through means other than via smoking. Unlike the smoke from a cigarette, which contains tar and other harful chemicals, nicotine has not been found to cause cancer.
What is NRT?
Some examples of NRT or smoking cessation aids are:
Patches - Nicotine patches release nicotine into the bloodstream through the skin.
Gum - Nicotine gum releases nicotine as you chew, which is then absorbed through the lining of the mouth.
Lozenges - Nicotine lozenges release nicotine as they dissolve in the mouth.
Microtabs - These small nicotine tablets dissolve under the tongue.
Nasal sprays - Nicotine nasal sprays deliver nicotine through the nose lining.
Therapies without nicotine - They come in the form of tablets and are usually prescription only.
How does NRT work?
NRT releases small controlled amounts of nicotine into the bloodstream via various methods.
Nicotine Patches & nicotine gum
Nicotine patches and nicotine gum are a method of nicotine replacement therapy and may help prevent the urge to smoke cigarettes by replacing the craving for nicotine.
What are nicotine patches & gum?
Both nicotine patches and gum are considered nicotine replacement therapies. The patches provide your body with a small amount of nicotine throughout the day, which may help in reducing cravings. Nicotine gum can be used at the point of which a craving occurs.
How do nicotine patches / gum work?
Nicotine patches are an adhesive that can be worn directly on the skin. There are various types of patches all worn throughout the day and release small doses of nicotine into your bloodstream via your skin. The patches can assist in reducing the craving you feel through the day. As nicotine patches can take some time to work, it's generally recommended that they're worn prior to any craving.
It's not recommended that regular use of nicotine patches are used beyond 12 months.
While chewing, nicotine gum releases various doses of nicotine into your bloodstream via the lining of your mouth. The gum may assist in reducing the immediate craving you feel at the time. Unlike regular gum, nicotine gum should be chewed a little and allowed to rest on the side of your mouth. repeat this process with the same piece over approximately 20 minutes or as directed by the packaging or healthcare provider. Nothing should be consumed before or while chewing the gum.
Both nicotine patches and gum can be used at the same time, though it's recommended you seek medical advice prior to commencing.
Some side-effects have been known to occur with both nicotine patches and/or gum, so seek medical advice if this is the case.