French Researchers Recommend Stopping E-Cigarette Use in Public

Use of electronic cigarettes in public spaces such as restaurants should be forbidden, French researchers wrote in a government-commissioned report.

Use of the devices, electronic tubes that simulate the effect of smoking by producing nicotine vapor, should be regulated, and forbidden to pregnant women and people younger than 18, wrote the researchers, led by Bertrand Dautzenberg, a professor of pneumology and the president of the French Office for Smoking Prevention, also known as OFT.

13 Tips to End Your Addiction

No 1. Know why you want to quit.

So you have taken the decision to stop smoking, but do you know the reason why? “Because it represents harm for you” is not such a good reason and is not enough. In order to get motivated you have to have a very strong personal reason. Maybe you want to protect your family from second hand smoke. Or maybe you are scared of lung cancer. Maybe you would like to look younger and feel healthy. So choose a reason that is so strong that will help you pass the urge to light up.

No2. Do not go cold Turkey.

It might seem simple to leave your cigarettes and say that you have quit. But going cold turkey is not easy at all to do. Among those smokers who have tried this method without therapy or medication, 95% end up relapsing. And all of these happen because smoking is an addiction. The brain depends on nicotine. The symptoms of nicotine withdrawal appear when the nicotine is in its absence.

No3 Try nicotine-replacement therapy

When you stop smoking, nicotine withdrawal can cause you frustration; you might feel depressed, angry or restless. The craving for “just one drag” may be overwhelming.  But nicotine replacement can reduce all of these feelings. Studies suggest lozenges, nicotine gum, patches which can help in quitting easier smoking. They have to be used with an intensive behavioral program. It is not recommended to use these products while you are smoking.

No4. Ask about prescription pills

To ease the nicotine withdrawal, without using products that contain nicotine, you have to ask your doctor for medications. There exist pills which reduce the cravings by altering the areas of the brain affected by the usage of nicotine. Other drugs can help reduce the troubles that you might have while quitting smoking. There can appear problems like inability to concentrate or depression.

No5. Don’t do it alone.

Tell you family members, friends and co-workers that you are trying to quit and this is your goal now. If they encourage you then you may see the difference. You may also like to talk with a counselor or join to a support group. There exists behavioral therapy which is a type of counseling that helps identify and stick to your quit-smoking strategies. Try to combine the nicotine-replacement with behavioral therapy.

No6 Manage stress

An important reason why people smoke is because nicotine helps them relax. Once you quit you need another way to deal with stress. Try to listen to the music, to get regular massages, to learn yoga or tai chi. Avoid stressful situations, if it is possible during the first few weeks after you stopped smoking.

No7 Avoid alcohol & other triggers.

There are certain activities which may boost your urge to smoke. Alcohol represents one of the most common triggers, so you have to try to drink less when you first quit. If for you coffee is a trigger than try to switch it to tea for a couple of weeks. If you habit was to usually smoke after meals, find something else to do instead, like chewing gum or brushing teeth.

No8  Clean house

Once you have smoked your last cigarette, toss all of your lighters and ashtrays. Clean your draperies, carpets and wash any clothes that smell like smoke. You don’t want anything to remind you of smoking habit that is why use an air freshener to get rid of that familiar scent.

No9  Try and try again

It is very common to have a relapse. It happens many times. Many smokers try many times to quit until they definitely give up smoking that is why you have to analyze your emotions and see what circumstances lead you to relapse. Use this opportunity to reaffirm the commitment to quitting. Once you have made the decision to try again, set a “quit day” within the next month.

Actress Maria Bello has started smoking

Actress Maria Bello has started smoking again, just months after kicking her longtime nicotine addiction. The health-conscious "Coyote Ugly" star, 43, thought she had managed to quit for good in November 2009 after undergoing a series of hypnotherapy sessions. 

She said, "I quit for a year, started again for a month, and then... I went to a hypnotist - and now I'm not smoking. It's my one horrible addiction. You can't believe it's working because you think, 'This is ridiculous, it's not going to work...' And then it works." 

But Bello admits she has since slipped back into her old routine and now the bad habit is costing her big - because she agreed to pay her nine-year-old son Jack cash every time she is caught with a cigarette, or whenever she swears. She says, "I started smoking a little bit again. I quit and now it's like four or five (cigarettes) a day. And I owe Jack money for that - every time he sees a cigarette in my purse and everytime I curse. I owe him like, $300 (200 pound sterling)!"