Sep 10, 2024
Tips on Switching to Smoke-Free Alternatives
Ready to move towards smoke-free alternatives, but finding yourself holding back? Smoking often becomes a deeply ingrained habit that is tied to daily routines, both personally and socially, and breaking these habits can be tough.
However, if you’re interested in making a shift towards smoke-free alternatives, you might wonder how you can make the transition more deliberate. While the best option for all adult smokers is to quit tobacco and nicotine use altogether, switching to smoke-free alternatives can be an alternative for those adults who would otherwise continue to smoke or use nicotine products.
Here are some general tips to help an adult smoker successfully switch to a smoke-free product:
List reasons why you want to switch
Start by taking a step back. Why do you want to switch to a smoke free alternative from cigarettes? Is it because your friends encourage it? Is it because you want to be away from ash and lingering smells? Or is it because you want to reduce exposure to harmful chemicals from smoking for yourself? Whatever the case, having a clear list of simple, memorable reasons that you can constantly refer to can help you commit to the switch.
Be prepared
Inform your smoking friends that you are now using smoke-free alternatives and keep your smoke-free product available, so you don’t have to revert to cigarettes when you want to use it.
Tell your friends you’re switching
Letting others know that you’re making a switch from cigarettes to a smoke-free alternative will encourage them to check in with you.
Which smoke-free alternatives are available for adult smokers?
There are a lot of different smoke-free alternatives available for adult smokers today, making it possible to switch away from cigarettes. With so many different brands, products, and features to choose from, there is sure to be a smoke-free alternative that can suit your personal preferences.
Chewing tobacco
Chewing tobacco has been around for a long time; in fact, some say that it’s one of the oldest ways to consume tobacco. In general, chewing tobacco comes in the form of loose leaves, plugs or twists of coarsely chopped, dried tobacco. It is placed between the cheek and lower gum or chewed, and nicotine is absorbed in the mouth. There is no smoke or aerosol created when chewing tobacco is consumed.
Snus
Snus usually comes in the form of finely ground tobacco that comes in a small pouch. It is placed in the adult user’s mouth, generally between the upper lip and gum.
E-cigarette/Vape
E-cigarettes, or vapes, are a type of smoke-free alternative with many product types, features, and customisations available. The fact that there is such a wide range in e–cigarettes/vapes is one of the benefits that adult users enjoy.
E–cigarettes/vapes are battery-powered devices that work by heating a liquid consumable, called e-liquid, that contain flavorings and nicotine. While no real tobacco is consumed, e-liquids can be found in countless flavours, including tobacco flavour, but not real tobacco. When the e-liquid heats up, it vapourises to create an aerosol.
Some may wonder, how else are e–cigarettes/vapes different to smoking cigarettes? It is combustion that causes the production of most harmful chemicals detected in cigarette smoke. The absence of combustion in e-cigarettes/vapes can significantly reduce the levels of harmful chemicals generated and inhaled.
E-cigarettes/vapes are not risk free.
Heated tobacco
Tobacco-heating devices heat specially designed, pressed tobacco, to precise temperatures, to ensure that the real tobacco used can release its flavour without any burning. Preventing tobacco from burning also prevents the creation of smoke, which contains many harmful and potentially harmful chemicals. This allows adult users to enjoy real tobacco satisfaction without exposure to smoke, ash, or lingering smells, although heated tobacco products are not risk free.
Learn about heated tobacco.
You can read more about these smoke free options in our article debunking myths around smoke free alternatives.
Why switch from cigarettes to smoke-free alternatives?
It’s simple: because it is an alternative to cigarettes for those adults who would otherwise continue smoking. The best choice for all adult smokers is to quit tobacco and nicotine use altogether. And with so many different products available today, whether it’s e-cigarettes/vapes or tobacco-heating devices such as IQOS, there are countless ways to make the switch.
Learn more about IQOS.
(Disclaimer: This article is for general information and educational purposes. Some of the information in this article is based on external, third-party sources and we make no representations or warranties of any kind regarding the accuracy, validity or completeness of such information.)
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