I saw the article on the “new” electronic cigarettes [Five Spot, Feb. 5, City Weekly], and as a public-health junkie, I feel it my obligation to warn against recommending these to your readers. E-cigarettes have not been approved by the FDA for tobacco cessation—meaning they have not under gone testing or safety protocols and may have unintended side effects. A safer, FDA approved way to quit is the nicotine inhaler. Nicotine in an inhaler is used to help you stop smoking. It is used for up to six months as part of a stopsmoking program.

This program may include counseling, education, specific behavior change techniques or support groups. With the inhaler, nicotine is inhaled through the mouth and is absorbed in the mouth and throat, but not in the lungs. Eight to 10 puffs on the inhaler provide about the same amount of nicotine as one puff on an average cigarette. This nicotine takes the place of the nicotine that you would otherwise get from smoking.

In this way, the withdrawal effects of not smoking are less severe. Then, as your body adjusts to not smoking, the use of the nicotine inhaler is decreased gradually over several weeks. Finally, use is stopped altogether.

The goal is cessation. 888-567-TRUTH and UtahQuitNet.com are both free resources to help tobacco users kick tobacco to the curb.

David Neville
Holladay