There Is a Kind of 'Hype' Called the E-cigarette Smoking Cessation Method

Introduction: It is reported that Liu Ming from Changzhou bought 7 different styles of e-cigarettes to try, but he still hasn't quit smoking. The effectiveness of e-cigarettes is controversial.
According to Chinese e-cigarette news: Some people have bought 7 different styles of e-cigarettes to try, but they still haven't quit smoking. "It used to be particularly hard to endure when I accompanied my girlfriend to the movies, always having to sneak to the bathroom for a smoke, but now I’m finally 'liberated.'" On August 19, in a cinema on Yanling West Road in Changzhou, Liu Ming was leisurely puffing away while watching a movie.

The "smoke" Liu Ming is puffing is not ordinary cigarettes, but e-cigarettes, consisting of a mouthpiece, atomizer, e-liquid, and a battery-containing body. There is no open flame; instead, nicotine is inhaled through vaporization and exhaled as white mist, with flavors similar to traditional cigarettes, including lemon, strawberry, cocktail, and more, making it usable in public places. The e-liquid equipped in e-cigarettes is designed according to the varying needs of smokers, with each bottle containing nicotine levels ranging from 0 to 24 milligrams in 6 variations.

This year, products called e-cigarettes seem to be trending again. This is the second wave of popularity following the rise of RuYan e-cigarettes in 2004.

Quitting Smoking: Expensive and Not Necessarily Effective

E-cigarettes do not contain tar and do not produce lingering secondhand smoke, leading many e-cigarette advertisements to promote them as smoking cessation products, claiming they can reduce harm and pollution to both the smoker and the surrounding environment. This has attracted many smokers in Changzhou, who are eager to join the ranks of e-cigarette users.

"I have a strong nicotine addiction, I need at least 2 packs of cigarettes a day." Zhang Guoqiang, a long-time smoker with 30 years of experience, has considerable experience with e-cigarettes. He recalls the RuYan e-cigarettes that were popular 10 years ago, which used disposable pods but had a harsh taste and required constant recharging, so he stopped using them after a few tries. Recently, he bought a new e-cigarette that looks like a submachine gun online, attempting to quit smoking by gradually reducing nicotine levels. "After two months, I have indeed smoked fewer traditional cigarettes, but I’m not sure if I can quit completely."

A friend of the reporter, determined to quit smoking, has bought 7 different types of e-cigarettes, each costing several hundred yuan, but he still hasn’t quit smoking. "Their idea of quitting is idealistic, but it may not be effective in practice." Dr. Yang Mingxia, deputy chief physician of the respiratory department at the Second Hospital, told the reporter that whether traditional cigarettes or e-cigarettes, as long as they contain nicotine, they will be addictive, and e-cigarettes also contain a large number of flavorings and additives, the side effects of which are still unknown.

Playing Cool: Enjoying Modifications and Big Clouds as Fun

"I just disassembled a product atomizer that I used for ten days, and the materials inside didn’t seem like cotton; they looked like some kind of fiber, and there were many black residue particles on it. I don’t know if this stuff will get into my lungs, and I don’t dare to think about it, so I decisively gave up!" Huang Mingcan, who has been playing with e-cigarettes for two years, has ordered another atomizer. He has bought 13 different types of e-cigarettes, trying to quit smoking while having fun. He told the reporter that modifying e-cigarettes and creating big clouds can distract him when cravings hit, thus helping him to quit smoking.

As an expert in e-cigarettes, Huang Mingcan has many apprentices, teaching them how to modify and create big clouds. They often sit down together to share experiences on quitting smoking.

Huang Mingcan told the reporter that their circle is continuously expanding because the fixed shapes of traditional cigarettes restrict creativity and hands-on operation for young people, while the modifiable nature of e-cigarettes meets this demand.

Popularity: Smoking This Doesn’t Require Playing "Hide and Seek"

On August 19, the reporter searched for "e-cigarettes" on Taobao and found that a store in Changzhou had a monthly sales volume exceeding 20,000 items. "When I was younger, almost all my friends smoked; those who didn’t seemed out of place." Old Zhang said that many years ago, young people regarded smoking as a cool thing to do; whenever they gathered, they would light up before discussing serious matters. But now, wherever you go, as long as it’s a public place, you can almost always see signs saying "No Smoking," and smokers seem to have become "rats crossing the street," needing to consider the feelings of those around them when smoking, sometimes even having to hide away.

"Smoking causes bad breath; my wife and kids keep their distance when I smoke, and I can’t smoke in the office, so when cravings hit, I can only sneak to the bathroom for a couple of puffs." Young white-collar worker Wang Qiang couldn’t help but complain to the reporter. Now he smokes fruit-flavored e-cigarettes, which don’t stain his teeth yellow, and his hair and clothes don’t carry the unpleasant smell of tobacco, and when he speaks, he can even exude a fruity fragrance, "At least smoking in front of others doesn’t bother them anymore." Additionally, e-cigarettes are not restricted by "No Smoking" signs, "I’ve smoked e-cigarettes in public places like airport waiting rooms and train stations, without open flames, so I don’t worry about safety hazards," Wang Qiang said.

Confusion: Is the Product Good or Bad?
"In the United States, the average price of an e-cigarette ranges from 1500 to 3000 yuan." According to industry insiders, in China, e-cigarettes are a new product, and the relevant management regulations are not strict, leading to many inferior products flooding the market, with prices varying widely.

Is there any regulation on e-cigarettes in Changzhou? The reporter subsequently interviewed relevant departments. A representative from the Changzhou Tobacco Monopoly Bureau stated that e-cigarettes do not fall under tobacco products, so they cannot comment. "Is it a food, a drug, or an electronic product?" said Shen Xiaojie, deputy director of the Municipal Food and Drug Administration, indicating that e-cigarette products do not fall under their regulatory scope.

A representative from the Changzhou Industry and Commerce Bureau stated that currently, e-cigarettes in Changzhou are considered ordinary products and can be produced and sold in Changzhou.