FEATURE
Criminology graduate Jordan Howes , 26 , started smoking when he was 15 and , like many , always wanted to stop but never could … until he discovered vaping .
Words : Jordan Howes
F or a while now , the smell of lingering tobacco on my clothing has become overwhelmingly suffocating and I worry about my future health if I don ’ t quit smoking . I ’ ve heard that vaping has helped many to switch , but I never gave it much serious thought until now . The mess of convoluted and contradictory data out there has always put me off . Some websites say vaping is a ‘ healthier ’ alternative to cigarettes , but others conclude that it ’ s ‘ as bad , if not worse ’, than smoking . And the ‘ science ’ is hardly helpful either . Certain studies claim that vaping is not very effective in helping smokers quit but other sources ( including the NHS ) suggest that thousands across the UK have successfully stopped smoking with the help of e-cigarettes . Which is it ? With cigarettes I know I inhale around 7,000 different chemicals – many of which are carcinogenic and linked to many life-threatening conditions . Vaping removes combustion from the equation and I ’ m excited to learn that Public Health England regards it as 95 percent less harmful than smoking . I owe it to myself to give this a try . The extensive choice of hardware available is staggering and a little overwhelming but after a lot of research , I choose a relatively humble £ 30 pod kit from what seemed like a reputable online vape company and gave it a go . The first few days were difficult as I got used to a new sensation , but I soon found that the cigarette cravings had gone . I haven ’ t thought about lighting-up once and the smell of blackcurrant is much more pleasant than stale cigarette smoke . The experience so far has been eye-opening and if I can use vaping to completely cut out smoking from my life then this will be a huge success for me . It ’ s early days yet , but I am now more determined than ever to make smoking a thing of the past .
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