Understand and include consumers in the THR debate

Tobacco product consumers are the orphans in the tobacco control debate. Despite being key stakeholders, they rarely have a seat at the table, where lawmakers develop harm reduction policies.”

Consumer Perceptions of THR products and use

“We can better manage what we measure”

Behavioural Science must be used to strengthen the THR evidence base. Lives can be saved, if we better understand consumer usage and attitudes towards cessation, vaping and tobacco products.

Independent consumer insight experts conducted a six-country study during 2020, to assess and compare attitudes to THR and smoking. READ MORE

Links to THRConsumer Movements

Denying communities access and honest information to enable healthier choices is a basic violation of human rights.”

If smokers wish to continue using nicotine, but want to reduce harm - they should have access to accurate risk communication and health information, including less harmful nicotine products. Get informed about what is happening in THR communities.

REAL-LIFE STORIES OF QUITTING OR SWITCHING

Read how THR and vaping have transformed the lives and health of former cigarette smokers to quit or reduce their smoking

Ex-smokers can provide the most compelling testimony of how smoke-free alternatives helped them to quit or reduce their smoking. This site provides an opportunity for ex-smokers to tell their real-life story of quit-ting or switching. By submitting your story, we accept that your story will be posted online, linked only to your initials (no personal information provided).

Testimonials

“ As an ex-smoker, ex-vaper and medical doctor, I have appraised the available evidence and have absolutely no doubt that switching from smoking to vaping nicotine is a no-brainer. I come from a long line of tobacco users. Everybody in my family smoked; I started in my mid-teens, becoming heavily addicted very quickly. Over the next 15 years, there were multiple unfruitful attempts to quit, using all the available supportive pharmacotherapy and nicotine replacement therapy. Eventually, I managed to stop but relapsed after a few years. When I learned about vaping, I decided to try it and never smoked another cigarette. Vaping ticked all of the boxes; it delivered the nicotine, gave me that ‘throat hit’, occupied my hands, and was far less harmful to my health than tobacco. I finally ceased vaping at the end of 2019 after gradually reducing nicotine levels from 18mg/ml to 2mg/ml, then quitting completely. I fervently believe that had I not switched to vaping, I would still be a ‘tobacco slave’.”
KEVIN M
Australia
“ I was a smoker for 30+ yrs when I made the switch to Vaping. I had tried quitting cigarettes a few times before, but was unsuccessful until I tried vaping. Vaping has allowed me to completely stop smoking cigarettes. I have been "smoke free" for 10 yrs now. Vaping as an alternative to cigarettes has improved my life in so many ways. My health has improved and I no longer have that stale stink of cigarette smoke in my house or in my car. I have decreased the nicotine level of my vape liquid (over time) to less than 2mg/ml. Education and Information is the key to responsible vaping.”
Kimberly B
“I have been a smoker since 16; I am now 35 and have been vaping for a couple months. What vaping has really done for me is to be able to spend more time with my dad. He has been vaping for 10 years and I truly believe that's why he is still around. I can't imagine anyone seeing this as anything but a miracle to help smokers live longer, happier lives in an obtainable way. I have tried the other nicotine alternatives and they were all a joke for a hard-core smoker. I picked up my vape one day and never wanted another cigarette again.”
Ray C
“ I’m a 67 year-old mother of four. I smoked for 42 years, half-heartedly tried to cut down/quit smoking to no avail. I tried patches, gum, lozenges but no success. Then on Aug 16, 2018, I left the house with a pack of cigarettes and a vape set up my sister gave me to try out. I began vaping and it was enjoyable. I had a 4-hour trip and an hour in; I realized I hadn’t lit a cigarette, so I thought I’d see how long I could go without smoking. It’s been over two years now. I never lit another cigarette and have no desire to do so. I tapered off from 18mg to now using 6mg nicotine. Vaping saved my life. I still can’t believe I was able to quit smoking in one day. It’s nothing short of a miracle.”
Rhonda A

Submit your testimonial

Ex-smokers can provide the most compelling testimony of how smoke-free alternatives helped them to quit or reduce their smoking. This site provides an opportunity for ex-smokers to tell their real-life stories of quitting or switching. By submitting your story, we accept that your story will be posted online, linked only to your partial name (no personal information provided).

Please tell your own story about quitting, by outlining:

How long did you smoke?
How many cigarettes did you smoke per day?
How many times did you try to quit smoking?
What methods did you use to quit?
How long ago did you start using a smoke-free alternative?
What type of smoke-free products do you use? (please do not include brand names)
Do you still occasionally smoke cigarettes, and if so how much?
Since quitting cigarettes, have you noticed any improvements in the quality of your life, e.g.:
- Breathe better?
- Taste better?
- Smell better?
- Feel healthier?
- Gain weight?

*Required fields

name* (private)

email* (private)

gender* (private)

age (private)

how long have you been vaping?

country (private)*

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