Level 2
I know, it smells bad etc. etc. but I don't exactly smoke 20 a day. I wouldn't force this on everyone as I think that's harsh, I also don't get why the government is removing all branding for cigarette packaging soon as this personally wouldn't make a difference to me. In fact, my brand will look the same just without a red bit on the top of the box.
Level 3
Kronkey_UK wrote:
I also don't get why the government is removing all branding for cigarette packaging soon as this personally wouldn't make a difference to me. In fact, my brand will look the same just without a red bit on the top of the box.
That's aimed at younger kids to try stop them becoming brand loyal or seeing adverts.
Kronkey_UK wrote:
I smoke because I like to smoke generally, but it would be nice to give up.
I know, it smells bad etc. etc. but I don't exactly smoke 20 a day. I wouldn't force this on everyone as I think that's harsh, I also don't get why the government is removing all branding for cigarette packaging soon as this personally wouldn't make a difference to me. In fact, my brand will look the same just without a red bit on the top of the box.
Have you investigated e-cigs or vapers? Not the disposable e-cigs that are a complete ripoff.
Vaping is just like smoking but without the harmful chemicals. There's only nicotine solution which gets vapourised. These e-cigs are usually 3 parts, a rechargeable battery, atomiser (heat element) and cartidge (nicotine solution). You basically smoke like normal, can have a choice of flavour, avoid the harmful chems and avoid the social stigma (p.s these are legal to smoke indoors/public areas etc).
I used to smoke rollups and would spend approx £70 in a 28 day period on tobacco.
Not including the initial outlay of the e-cig (which was £30), I now spend at most £30 every 28 days (the Atomisers are good for anywhere from 7 to 20 days and 30ml of nicotine solution lasts me 2 weeks).
I hate to think how much I would have saved if I was a ready-made smoker.
^ I thought I was a heavy smoker but only spend about half that (on rollies). I've also looked into e-ciggies but never went there. I should do if only for the health aspects...
fenian wrote:There is a new drug in development, currently only tested on mice however, it has shown the ability to create an immune response to nicotine in the blood.
Basically your body grabs the nicotine in your blood before it has a time to get to your brain. So if you gave it to someone who never smoked before, they would never be able to get addicted to nicotine.
It sounds like a terrible idea in my opinion. Smoking is by and large a psycological addiction, not a physical one. For instance, I can quite happily not smoke if I know I can't (e.g. on a plane) or are busy/distracted. As soon as I think about ciggies, it's all I can think about until I have one.
I'm also not convinced the nicotine/brain interaction constitutes enough of the habit to make this drug effective. The feeling of drawing/exhaling smoke, and having something to do with your hands plays a large part into it.
So, I don't think this drug will cure existing addicts, or even help them give up. And as mentioned, it's only blocking the part about smoking that isn't actually harmful - all the stuff that kills you will still be killing you. And I'd be worried that it might allow youngsters to think they can try smoking with this drug safe in the false knowledge that they won't get addicted...
I can't see any pro's to it, other than making yet another drug company richer.
Level 2
Currently I smoke rollies, spend about £20 every 2 weeks or so on tobacco (But I get a lot of it for very cheap) and if I do decide I want to buy a box instead it's about £5. So yeah it's expensive.
Those e-Cigs do look appealing though, saw them advertised in the petrol station near mine the other day but I haven't really looked into it. Might do now though it does seem a better alternative. They're not like those poxy inhalators though are they? Those things just erode the back of your throat.
Level 3
InfiniteStates wrote:Smoking is by and large a psycological addiction, not a physical one.
Do you have any links to prove nicotine is not pyshically addictive? because it is pyshically addictive, I think thats been scientifcally proven, the only debate is if it's a little bit more or less addictive than heroin.
Do you have a link to suggest that nicotine free cigarettes are addictive? because they are not, and they do exist. Herbal cigarettes exist.
I think its a bit silly to suggest people should stay addicted to nicotine because they will be addicted to the repetitive processes involved in smoking anyway.
Level 2
fenian wrote:
InfiniteStates wrote:Smoking is by and large a psycological addiction, not a physical one.
Do you have any links to prove nicotine is not pyshically addictive? because it is pyshically addictive, I think thats been scientifcally proven, the only debate is if it's a little bit more or less addictive than heroin.
Do you have a link to suggest that nicotine free cigarettes are addictive? because they are not, and they do exist. Herbal cigarettes exist.
I think its a bit silly to suggest people should stay addicted to nicotine because they will be addicted to the repetitive processes involved in smoking anyway.
I think it's both really. That's my opinion anyway not stating as fact.
When you think about having a smoke, it's all you can think of sometimes. Personally I think that's down to the nicotine in your system and your habits. But even sometimes when I don't crave one I'll have one out of boredom. So to me it's physical and mental.
fenian wrote:As far as I know, you're not supposed call e-cigs harmless, you are supposed to say any health risks are greatly reduced.
You're not supposed to term them as a "Smoking Cessation" device i.e a giving up device.
They actually fall outside of any regulatory bodies remit, so descriptions etc are altered regulary depending on which legal body is trying to impound them.
For example, the US recently impounded a massive import of e-cigs at customs because they were termed as a "device to give up smoking" and coupled with that decription, they are required to pass through medicinal test proceedures. As such the description was altered. 
While it can't be 100% (as it's never been tested), e-cig users are only inhaling Nicotine dilute vapour and while Nicotine in its pure form is a poison, it is a naturally occuring compound. The nasties in smoking a normal cig are just not present, so I (personally) can't see a harmful side. I know things can change in that respect.
Besides, crossing a road at a pedestrian crossing isn't harmless, just the risk of being run over is greatly reduced. 
Edit - In fairness, my rollie expenditure was at RRP. Couldn't get any cheapo EU bacci regularily enough. 
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