NICOTINE PATCHES:
How can you DOUBLE your chances of quitting smoking for good?
Nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) can help reduce physical withdrawal from nicotine and make quitting easier. Many options cost about the same as buying cigarettes, but with a much healthier payoff.
BEST CHOICE
You can buy patches at most pharmacies. Choose the dose that fits how much you smoke. On your quit day, put one on and go about your day. You might be surprised how much the patch can reduce cravings and help you break the habit more easily.
Nicotine patches are FDA-approved and have been shown to help people quit successfully.
HOW TO USE THE PATCH:
GOOD CHOICE
NICOTINE GUM OR LOZENGES:
Nicotine gum and lozenges are available at most pharmacies, and a 10-day supply can cost around $40. They are meant to be a short-term substitute for smoking and can help you manage cravings in the moment.
These products are FDA-approved and have been shown to support quitting success.
HOW TO USE THE GUM:
HOW TO USE THE LOZENGE:
BAD CHOICE
E-CIGARETTES AND VAPING:
Vaping is not a safe alternative to smoking. Vape liquids and aerosols contain harmful substances, including carcinogens that can cause cancer, and toxic chemicals and metals that have been linked to lung damage and disease.
Research shows that young people who vape are more likely to start smoking tobacco cigarettes later.
E-cigarettes/Vaping are often marketed as "safer", but they can contain many harmful substances, including:
- Nicotine
- Volatile organic compounds
- Ultrafine particles that reach deep into the lungs
- Heavy metals like nickel, tin, and lead
- Flavoring chemicals such as diacetyl, linked to serious lung disease
- Cancer-causing chemicals
Many popular vape pods may contain as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes (about 20 cigarettes), meaning they can be highly addictive.
The CDC notes that some e-cigarettes labeled as "nicotine-free" have still been found to contain nicotine. That means you cannot always be sure what you are inhaling or how much.
Vaping fumes can be toxic and should not be used indoors or around children.
Most importantly, the long-term health effects of vaping are still unknown, which makes it a significant health risk.
Bottom line: Vaping is not a healthy alternative to smoking.