CAMH

Home
Main Forum
Quit Smoking
Common Support Questions
Smoke free or Nicotine Free

Advanced Search Form

Smoke free or Nicotine Free

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 153

I have to say I agree with everything you guys are saying but I feel the need to clear something out... Kelly, there is no evidence showing that nicotine causes cancer. Smoking does and it is mainly because of all the other nasty chemicals that one keeps putting into one's blood stream and in direct contact with their very sensitive one layer of epithelium cells in their lungs. Some of those chemicals have DNA damaging properties, which most of the times result in the overexpression of overactive growth promoting or cell motility promoting receptors. This is what leads to cancer. Sorry... I just felt like I needed to clear that one out. Even though I agree with you guys that nicotine is an extremely addictive drug (as bad as heroin) and you should definitely do your best to keep free of it, in all the years I studied cancer research there was no evidence suggesting nicotine on its own has carcenogenic properties. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]10/28/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 8 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 120 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $39.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 24 [B]Seconds:[/B] 13

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1153

Wazz, Everybody sets individual goals when quitting. Some people quit cold turkey and are smoke and nicotine free. Others use NRTs and start out smoke free and work their way towards being nicotine free. NRTs are also givin in specific doses so they are often less then what an individual was smoking. Being smoke free has huge benefits. Your lungs can start to heal, you are no longer inhaling tar and all of the other by-products of cigarettes and your are weaning yourself off of nicotine. Whatever you need to do for you is right. Brenna Bilingual Health Educator

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 96

I agree and I also understand that the primary goal is to quit smoking then work on the addiction if thats how one goes about it. I am by no means any authority on anything. Congrads to all who hang in there day to day. :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]11/2/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 2 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 44 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $11.88 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 47 [B]Seconds:[/B] 52

Quit Meter

$37,134.72

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 852 Hours: 23

Minutes: 17 Seconds: 33

Life Gained
Quit Meter

6447

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

193,410

Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3875

Wazz, NRT serves a purpose, its not just about weaklings who can't go cold turkey. I was one of those people who needed NRT. I used the patch. I tried cold turkey, several times, I tried the gum, I tried Zyban. I needed the patch to get me to a level where I could stand the cravings, and maybe thats why it took me 37 years to quit, maybe thats why it took me umpteen hundred tries to quit. The point is I am here and I am eight months smoke free and I am six months off nicotine. I say if you need NRT, use it whatever it takes to het you quit - use it! If it takes you four months, use it. Of couese the sooner you can get off, thats great, but the point is the end result - nicotine free! :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/5/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 244 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 6,100 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2,574.20 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 29 [B]Hrs:[/B] 20 [B]Mins:[/B] 39 [B]Seconds:[/B] 8

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3541

Yes, what kelly said. For me, nicotine free was the ultimate goal but I had to start with smoke-free and for me, that meant the patch. My eye was always on the ultimate prize though, so I celebrated every day that brought me closer to being off the patch, I used every day on it to get ready for being off it & when I was done, I didn't mourn it. I had a big party here, people talked it for days! For most of us, I think the goal is to live without addiction. We take different paths and the important thing is that we get there. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]5/13/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 175 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,500 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,925.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 17 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 43 [B]Seconds:[/B] 5

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 96

I agree. Just saying that smoke free is great but I give more props to someone that is smoke free and nic free. If you quit smoking but are still on the patch or chewing nic gum after 3 months then to me its not a quit at all. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]11/2/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 2 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 44 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $11.88 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 35 [B]Seconds:[/B] 50

Quit Meter

$37,134.72

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 852 Hours: 23

Minutes: 17 Seconds: 33

Life Gained
Quit Meter

6447

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

193,410

Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1093

I think it's both, Wazz. The first goal is to get smoke-free. The second goal is to live nicotine free. I feel that as long as I keep nicotine in my system I am at risk of smoking again. I know that is true for me because I've experienced it. Besides, doesn't nicotine cause cancer? [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]8/25/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 71 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,130 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $415.35 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 6 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 24 [B]Seconds:[/B] 49

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 96

well put. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]11/2/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 2 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 44 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $11.88 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 25 [B]Seconds:[/B] 25

Quit Meter

$37,134.72

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 852 Hours: 23

Minutes: 17 Seconds: 33

Life Gained
Quit Meter

6447

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

193,410

Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 105

Whatever you need to do to get there is fine in my book. I had tried NRT's before during failed quits and now look at that, for me, as something that would prolong the physical withdrawal by taking me down inch by inch when I could get through that physical withdrawl more quickly. This time I used chantix, which is not nicotine, and it cut down the cravings a lot during the first couple of days. I guess if someone is chewing huge amounts of nicorette a year after quitting, I would think that was a problem, but beyond that - whatever it takes. I really think it's with the psychological addiction where the real work is done, anyway. Of course the goal is to be completely nicotine-free, but the means/method to getting there to me isn't as important as the fact that someone IS able to get there at all. In my opinion, once you're really ready to be done - you'll be done -- no matter how you quit. Lori [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]9/29/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 36 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 360 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $72.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 28 [B]Seconds:[/B] 59

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 96

Maybe its all good to be void of either or both. But if you are smoke free but still using something with nicotine in it, wouldnt that be similar to say I no longer shoot herion i now just take pain pills. I dont know that may not be the correct hypothesis. But I think its great to say you are smoke free but isnt it even a greater reward to be smoke free and drug free (nicotine)? This is my 3rd try at quiting in the last 6 years so I am by far NO expert on anything related to quitting. I just want to know how other feel about this to help me understand. Is it like being smoke free is the first goal then nicotine free is like another stat which I think is just as important. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]11/2/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 2 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 40 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $10.80 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 20 [B]Seconds:[/B] 6

Quit Meter

$37,134.72

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 852 Hours: 23

Minutes: 17 Seconds: 33

Life Gained
Quit Meter

6447

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

193,410

Cigarettes Not Smoked

Reading this thread:

today's top discussions:

This Month’s Leaders:

Most Supportive

Most Active

Most Loved

Smoke free or Nicotine Free