Smoking cessation versus tobacco replacement. What is the difference?

Posted on May 17, 2013 by Lorraine

These two terms, smoking cessation and tobacco replacement seem very similar but in fact are two very different things. And how they are defined is at the center of the electronic cigarette controversy. Let’s start with the Wikipedia definition for smoking cessation:

Smoking cessation (colloquially quitting smoking) is the process of discontinuing the practice of inhaling a smoked substance.

So when we talk about smoking cessation we are talking about quitting smoking. Why this becomes such a complex and in the case of ecigs, controversial subject is that the addiction to smoking cigarettes is much more than just an addiction to nicotine. In fact many studies support the fact that there are two distinct types of cigarette addicts and that the addictions are controlled largely by a genetic component in the brain. A person can be addicted to nicotine without being addicted to cigarettes and conversely a person can be addicted to cigarettes without being PRIMARILY addicted to nicotine. In other words, they are more addicted to the hand to mouth, the self soothing action of smoking a cigarette than they are to nicotine. And THIS is why patches, gum, lozenges etc do not work for these people. Yes those products will stop the physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawals. But they do nothing to address the addiction to the action of smoking itself. I would imagine that a similar phenomenon takes place with people who chew tobacco. They can be just as if not more addicted to the triggers, the physical actions of using the tobacco as they are to nicotine. Part of most smoking cessation programs is something called NRT or nicotine replacement therapy. This refers to the patches, gum, lozenges etc.

So what then is a tobacco replacement if it is not smoking cessation. Tobacco replacement is just that. Replacing the tobacco with something else but continuing to engage in the behavior of smoking. This can be achieved by replacing the tobacco with another (legal) herbal substance and many people feel this is a viable and safer alternative to tobacco. They believe that the replacement herbs may even have beneficial health giving properties to them and realistically this is something humans have practiced for many thousands of years. (please note I am NOT talking about recreational drug use). I personally have actually tried this method and found that it actually made me want to smoke more. I also have my doubts as to how inhaling the smoke from anything at all can be beneficial. But vapor is a completely different story. The difference between vapor and smoke is the temperature at which the change occurs. Smoke is a result of combustion, burning, and requires much higher temperatures than vaporization does. The chemical changes that take place during combustion also tend to be much more drastic and harmful.

So now we come to electronic cigarettes. What IS the SmokeStik? It is tobacco replacement. It is not smoking cessation. Because even if you use a non-nicotine SmokeStik you are still engaging in the act of simulated smoking. You are replacing one addiction with another. But is this a bad thing? Myself and the ecig industry say no, it is not. It is what we call “harm reduction”. You are eliminating the known, factual harm done by cigarettes while continuing to enjoy the soothing pleasure you recognize from the act of smoking. Are ecigs harmless? Honestly we don’t know enough yet to make that claim. But none of the studies that have been done to date have proven any harm and in fact there are finally studies now released that show increased benefits from replacing cigarette tobacco with an electronic cigarette. And there are many main stream studies now showing possible benefits and drug usages for nicotine by itself. This is an emerging science and I am not implying you can cure any disease with an ecig. Only that there is promise of nicotine in the pure form, at carefully titrated doses proving beneficial to certain disease states. And we do know that nicotine is not the “bad guy” it has been made out to be. Is it addictive? Oh yes…extremely. I would never tell a non-smoker to start using an ecig. That is just silly. And I think it’s silly that our government together with certain anti-tobacco groups uses this as a reason to try and ban our product.

So keep an eye on your local elections and be sure to VOTE! Here is a resource you can use to find out what is currently happening in your state to try to take away your freedom to vape:

http://www.electroniccigaretteban.org/

Cheers!!!

Flavored cartomizers. What do they really taste like?

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Lorraine

Everyone knows that flavor is a very subjective thing. And trying to pick the flavor of something online is about as useful as trying to buy perfume online…LOL. So I thought I would try and give some good descriptions of our flavors to help you know what to expect when you buy them for the first time.

Tobacco/Regular Flavor

One of the most common questions we get is this one: “does the tobacco cartomizer really taste like tobacco?” The best answer I can come up with for that is that they feel like tobacco smoke (IF they have nicotine in them) and the feeling, or what we call “throat hit”, is more important than the flavor. I would not honestly say they taste just like a cigarette but they are made to taste similar. They have a touch of sweetness to them but not a lot. What they don’t have is that nasty after taste you get with a cigarette. And since all brands of cigarette do not taste alike most of what dictates rather you will like the flavor of a SmokeStik is really your own preconceived ideas.If you want to like it…you will. I enjoy my SmokeStik much more than I ever enjoyed smoking.

Menthol

SmokeStik menthol is deliberately formulated to be different from other brands of e-cig.We wanted something that would appeal to people who had never been a menthol smoker and in fact many people who just can’t come to enjoy our tobacco flavor end up using the menthol even though they never smoked menthol cigarettes. I would describe it as being heavier on the mint flavor while still having that cool rush of menthol feel. What really sets it apart though is the vanilla. There is a touch of vanilla in it that softens and smooths out the flavor so you are not getting that harsh mouthwash taste. If you were a die hard menthol smoker and you enjoyed the harsher menthol’s then it might take some adjustment. But one thing I can tell you from personal experience that really is true…the longer you use an e-cig flavor the more you will come to enjoy it.

Cherry

Again, SmokeStik specialty flavors have been blended especially for us. We did not want candy flavored vapor. We wanted adult flavors for smokers. In a totally blind taste test I could easily pick out the Cherry from other flavors. But unlike other e-cig flavors I have tried it does not taste like candy. It reminds me of cherry pipe tobacco. It is a tobacco base with just a hint of clean,pure cherry as a top note.I would describe the cherry flavor as mild.

Strawberry

Strawberry SmokeStik cartomizers are the most UN-tobacco like flavor of them all. It is what I would call a bold flavor. It is unmistakably STRAWBERRY! LOL. But again, not like candy. It is not overly sweet. It is one of our most popular flavors.

Cappuccino

The cappuccino actually does taste like cappuccino. It does not taste like plain coffee. There is a very bold milk flavor to it with the coffee/tobacco as a base. Many people love this one as a “dessert vape“. They don’t use it all day but save it as a treat. After dinner or first thing in the morning with a cup of coffee.

Vanilla

Vanilla SmokeStik cartomizers are my personal favorite and what I use every day. It’s what is known as an “all day vape“ for me. Of all the flavors it is the mildest. And that is what I love about it. Too much vanilla flavoring to me is not pleasant. And it requires a lot of sweetener. Since we don’t add sweeteners to our liquids other than the natural sweetness of the glycerin I think they got this one just right. If you’re expecting something that tastes like vanilla ice cream this isn’t it. I would describe it as a mild tobacco with a hint of vanilla.

I hope this is helpful to anyone thinking about trying a new flavor. And remember….we do sell a sample pack! You get one of each specialty flavor along with one menthol. Give yourself a treat and try something new!

SmokeStik electronic cigarette batteries and chargers. How do they work?

Posted on May 2, 2013 by Lorraine

So you just got your new SmokeStik kit and it seems simple enough, right? Two little pieces that screw together, puff and go. But you quickly realize it isn’t as simple as it looks. Do you have to charge the battery when you receive it? Why are there four different pieces to the charger. And mostly, what do all these blinky lights mean on both the charger and the battery???

Can I use the SmokeStik right out of the box?

Typically when you receive your kit or a new battery it should have an 80% charge on it. This means it will work, but will not stay charged as long as it will when it’s fully charged. Also, it takes 3 charge cycles to condition a battery. This means for the first three charges the battery will not be quite as powerful or stay charged quite as long as it will after the conditioning period. So if at first it seems like the battery isn’t doing what it should give it a couple cycles to “warm up”.

How do I know when to charge the battery?

Your SmokeStik will blink/flash at you 10 times when the charge is completely used up. However, it’s better not to wait that long. It will extend the battery life if you go ahead and charge it when the flavor and vapor production begins to “roll off”. This is a different feeling and taste than when the cartomizer is done. We will talk about that later. But when you start getting less vapor and your not being satisfied by the puffs you take…your battery needs to be recharged.

How long does it take to charge a battery? Can I leave it plugged in too long?

If your battery is completely dead it will take 3 hours to charge it. However long it takes to top off the charge is called a “charge cycle”. This term will be important to you shortly. And no, you cannot leave it plugged in too long. You can leave it plugged in overnight and it will not hurt a thing. The charger and the battery both have a micro chip in them and they communicate with each other. When the battery is full the charger stops charging.

How do I know when it’s done? And why do some of my batteries blink when I take them off the charger and some of them don’t ? Is something wrong with the ones that don’t?

Here is where the different charger lights come in to play. Its important to also know the correct names of all the pieces in case you ever think you have a problem you will be able to accurately describe it to us. So I will start with a photo of those pieces:

The AC adapter has a GREEN light on it that should always be on and always be green. It never changes. The USB corded charger has a BLUE light on it that turns blue when the charge is complete OR if your battery is totally dead, as in can’t be recharged dead, the light will always be blue but the battery will not work. If your battery needs to be charged the light will be RED when you screw in the battery. It IS totally normal to see that light flickering between colors when the battery is completely charged. And if you hold the charger at an angle the light may appear yellow. If the light starts flickering the minute you screw in and doesn’t stop then you need a new charger.(Older versions of the USB charger may have a green light instead of a blue light. This goes for the car adapter as well) The fourth piece of your charger set is called a dongle USB charger. It’s “ready” light is green but it functions exactly like the corded model.

The answer to the question about the light on the BATTERY is honestly, we don’t know. Some batteries will light up while they are being charged and then flash at you when you remove them from the charger. Some don’t. There is nothing wrong with either one. If your battery works it works. You don’t need to worry about the blinky lights.

How long before I need new batteries?

This is where charge cycles come in. Lithium batteries have an overall lifetime of about 300 charge cycles. But that doesn’t translate directly into linear time…or the number of months a battery will last. The more puffs you take….and the longer those puffs last, the more you will need to charge your battery. So a person who is charging their battery once a day because they are regulating their usage and not over using the battery will get many more months of use out of a battery than the person who is “chain puffing” and charging 2 or more times a day. To put it in perspective if you where to draw on these little batteries nonstop without any rest, just one long inhalation, they would stay charged about 7 minutes. So much of the life of your battery is up to you and how you use it. A starter kit comes with two batteries because that is what it takes to get you started. If you were a pack a day smoker or more you really need more than two batteries to have consistent, satisfying puffs and not have to worry about getting caught with only one battery.

I had a perfectly good battery that suddenly just stopped working. Why?

There is really only one reason a perfectly good battery just suddenly stops working. It got dropped on a hard surface. Dropping your batteries on concrete or a hard tile floor can break the lead wires inside. When this happens the battery core itself is still good but the SmokeStik will no longer work since it cannot receive or send electricity.

I dropped my battery in the bathtub, toilet, hot tub, dish water, washing machine. Will it still work?

uh…..No. That’s it …just no. And even excessive moisture from using your SmokeStik at the beach, or say if you work in a fish store and lean over aquariums all day, or take it jet skiing can cause it to stop working. As well as walking around with it hanging out of your mouth. You may not realize it but your saliva ends up inside the battery. I know this for a fact because I have killed batteries this way….LOL

I hope this helps make your SmokeStik experience easier to understand and more enjoyable. And as always, if you think you have a problem…just call us!!! We are happy to help.

SmokeStik co-sponsors Chevy VOLT “Volt Valley” party at Coachella Arts Festival

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Lorraine

I guess you all know by now that we love our celebrities. And there is no better place to find all the hottest stars together at one big event then the Coachella Arts and Music Festival. Our good friend Leo DiCaprio was spotted there with his SmokeStik.

The festival runs for two weeks and the first weekend is known for it’s VIP parties held in the surrounding area. The Volt Valley party was powered by Bagatelle Beach Las Vegas and was held at a 10 acre private ranch overlooking the festival. Lucy Hale star of Pretty Little Liars was seen screaming all the way down the zip line. There were hot air ballon rides and of course plenty of great food and drinks.

SmokeStik had a vapers friendly lounge set up where guests could sample the SmokeStik and enjoy a relaxing “smoke”. One of our favorite celebrities and co-creator of the Hendu SmokeStik, Josh Henderson, stopped by to hang out with the SmokeStik girls.

It looks like a good time was had by all! But in all seriousness these kinds of events, and especially the participation from popular celebrities is very important not just to SmokeStik but to the entire electronic cigarette industry. We thank all the celebs who support us in the fight to keep ecigs legal and readily available. Seeing them make “the switch”, rather it’s to SmokeStik or some other brand of ecig, can only help their fans to make the switch from deadly tobacco smoke as well.

Cheers everyone!!!

New research being conducted about electronic cigarettes and you can help!

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Lorraine

One of the most important things in regards to keeping ecigs legal and readily available is research. This group along with Dr Konstantinos Farsalinos of the Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center are conducting an anonymous survey and you can participate!

Research team led by Dr Konstantinos Farsalinos has been involved in research concerning e-cigarettes over the past two years. The motivation came from previous research on smokers and from two friends who had started using e-cigarettes in 2011. The idea to study the clinical effects of e-cigarettes was born. Later, research expanded on laboratory level (evaluating the cytotoxic potential of e-cigarettes on cultured cells) and on psycho-behavioral level (understanding patterns of use and characteristics of users). Major practical issues have also been addressed, like the levels of nicotine administered from e-cigarette use in comparison with tobacco cigarettes and NRTs. Several studies are currently prepared for publication.

We ask all e-cigarette users to take part in our online survey. We hope to it will be the biggest survey ever performed on e-cigarette. The results will certainly have implication in the decisions made by public health officials.

You will also be able to find the results of much of the most recent research at this website presented in such a way as to make it understandable to the lay person. One thing I like in particular is the in depth commentaries that show the flaws in most of the research that has given negative results. It’s fascinating to see how numbers and survey results can be manipulated to “prove” something that just isn’t true.

http://www.ecigarette-research.com/web/

FOX News reports results of new ecig survey

Posted on April 9, 2013 by Lorraine

Hello friends,

I came across this great article from FOX News entitled:

E-cigarettes primarily used to quit tobacco, study finds

Now this may seem like a no brainer to you and me but apparently it isn’t so clear to the FDA and European health agencies. In fact this exact subject is one of the FDA’s pet peeves when it comes to electronic cigarettes. The FDA has somehow got it into their collective heads that people are using ecigs to boost their nicotine consumption indiscriminately. As someone who has spent the last three years talking to ecig customers every single day I know for a fact this is just not true. But it does bring up an interesting and valid point. Is it ok to use the SmokeStik AND smoke tobacco cigarettes at the same time?

Absolutely! But let me qualify that. I am NOT saying anyone should use an ecig to “boost” their nicotine consumption. I can see how there might be a few people who will abuse this product….just like there are people who abuse everything. Is it possible to get yourself in trouble by using both ecigs and cigarettes at the same time? Of course. But my direct experience is that the vast majority of people simply don’t do that. In fact I have personally never talked to a customer who I felt uncomfortable selling the SmokeStik to for that reason. And one thing about SmokeStik…..if we think your doing something harmful…we will tell you. We never try to push anyone to purchase more than they absolutely need. The people I talk to who still smoke have made an intelligent and informed decision. They know from past experience that they are simply unable to stop smoking completely. For those people the SmokeStik is about harm reduction, not “quitting smoking”. And I personally see nothing wrong with that. Everyone I have talked to that still smokes tells me they need just one or two cigarettes a day and they are fine. These are almost always people who have A. smoked for MANY years….30plus and B. smoke a very large amount….2 packs a day or more. For whatever reason they just cannot cope with the thought of living without cigarettes. So one or two a day is all it takes to satisfy them as long as they are using the SmokeStik. In fact, these people tend to be more self aware and vigilant about their usage. They monitor their cartomizer purchases and stick to a routine buying pattern. They can log into their SmokeStik account and see exactly how many cartomizers they are using and they know when they need to back off.

So if you originally purchased your SmokeStik with the hope that it would be a smoking cessation device but you just have not been able to give up cigarettes completely…that’s ok! Keep track of your purchases and if you have doubts about how to compare your cartomizers to your cigarettes…call us! We will be happy to help you make sure you are not using more than you should. We can also help you set up a step down program to decrease your nicotine consumption gradually. But mostly, don’t beat yourself up if you’re still smoking a couple cigarettes a day. Stay aware of what you’re doing. That is the most important thing. Don’t smoke mindlessly. If you have to smoke a cigarette then stop what your doing and enjoy the cigarette. And just remember….every 10 puffs you take off a SmokeStik is one more cigarette you DIDN’T smoke! Congratulations!!!

Happy Easter from SmokeStik !!!

Posted on March 29, 2013 by Lorraine

Happy Easter to all our customers from the crew at SmokeStik!!!!!!!

We sincerely hope everyone enjoys this beautiful spring weekend whether you celebrate Easter or celebrate some other springtime holiday. Enjoy your families and enjoy your SmokeStiks!

Smoking Bans

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Lorraine

Well I was all set to write a great article about smoking bans and why the electronic cigarette can be such a great product even if you don’t want to quit smoking tobacco. But then I started doing my research and was very disappointed to find out that e-cigs are becoming more and more regulated, read: banned.

But that doesn’t take away all the benefits that a SmokeStik offers over traditional cigarettes. It just means that we are going to have to be more aware of these laws. And I think it’s especially important to be extra polite and tolerant of the people around us. Because the truth is we really don’t know everything we need to know about e-cigs yet and that makes it even more important to purchase from a well known, long standing company like SmokeStik.

At SmokeStik almost everyone uses our own product, including the founder and CEO of the company. We would not sell you something we don’t use ourselves. Our cartomizer refills are batch coded and dated and our liquid is tested in an independent lab for purity. All our customer service agents are specifically trained in the technology of our product and can help you with any issues or questions you might have. Even if we are all busy and you have to leave a voicemail we always return your call. Usually within minutes if it’s during business hours. We respond to emails 7 days a week.

So even though we are no longer honestly able to say you can use an electronic cigarettes anywhere you want to I still think the benefits are worth talking about. And at the top of my list is I can still use it in my own home!!!!!! And so can you! And what if you really don’t want to quit smoking? What are the benefits then?

NO second hand smoke in your home
NO nasty smell in your home
NO standing outside in the freezing rain to have a smoke
NO worries about falling asleep and starting a fire
NO missing parts of your favorite television show

And my personal favorite…….you can use the SmokeStik while reading in bed! And that is something I NEVER would have done with a cigarette. And of course all these benefits apply to your automobile as well making group and family outings much more pleasant for everyone.

For those of you who are interested in keeping up with exactly what laws are being passed regarding electronic cigarettes and where here is an excellent resource.

http://www.electroniccigaretteban.org/

I think it goes without saying that SmokeStik wholeheartedly supports any ban on the sale of ecigs to minors. And on the very few occasions that we have received calls from non-smokers we make sure they clearly understand what they are about to do…..to my knowledge we have never sold our product to a non-smoker unless it was NON nicotine. Ecigs are for adults who either already smoke or are already using nicotine.

SmokeStik goes to Vegas! With Dennis Quaid, Jason O’Mara and Taylor Handley

Posted on March 7, 2013 by Lorraine

Isn’t this a fantastic photograph?!?! It’s no secret that SmokeStik loves to show off our celebrities. Because these handsome gentlemen, pictured here on the set of Vegas, are real SmokeStik users, not paid endorsements. And we are also always happy to see them being successful, which the new CBS prime time show Vegas clearly is.

Vegas is a drama, styled as a modern day western, based on the life of Ralph Lamb, (Dennis Quaid) a Las Vegas rancher turned sheriff. After a casino worker is murdered the mayor asks Lamb to investigate. This leads him to his first run in with Chicago mobster Vincent Savino.(Michael Chiklis) Lamb turns to family to help him keep Las Vegas safe, his brother Jack,( Jason O’Mara) and son Dixon (Taylor Handley) work as his deputies.

Dennis and Jason are long time friends of, and real life users of SmokeStik. Justin, the handsome blonde pictured here between Dennis and Jason, has a long history in the entertainment business in Hollywood and is actively trying to convince his friend, Taylor to become a full time, permanent SmokeStik user. Let’s wish them all luck at making the set of Vegas smoke free!!!