How to stop smoking with nicotine pouches - an easy way to stop

Is this the third or maybe fifth time that you're relapsing? Are the pressure and frustration of cigarette cessation getting to you? Don't worry; these setbacks are temporary. Please sit back, take a deep breath, and relax because I'm here to walk you through the steps of quitting cigarettes.

Why should you listen to a random guy on the internet? I've been through the things that you're experiencing right now. I know about the painful kickbacks, and know what can help alleviate the pain (albeit slightly). I have no opinion on what is right or what is wrong. The first step to getting rid of any habit is understanding why you need to quit. So, why should you cease destroying your lungs and brain?

Firstly, why should you stop smoking tobacco?

You should stop using cigarettes because you'll eventually die a painful death if you don't. Don't be an idiot sandwich. Here are three excellent reasons why you should not use cigarettes. If these aren't enough to convince you, then say bye-bye to your lungs.

Tons of fantastic health risks

We can give you a million different reasons for smoking cessation. However, the first one is obviously the health risks of cigarettes and other combustible products. Cigarettes have tons of "delicious" carcinogens that creep into the soft tissues of your body and render your body practically useless. According to the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), a single cigarette contains more than 70 chemicals linked to cancer. Isn't that just wonderful?

Cigarettes:

• Lead to plaque accumulation in your arteries, and give you a literal heart attack.
• Cause brain damage by cutting off the oxygen supply to the brain.
• Give you lung and pancreatic cancer.
• Reduce your attention span, focus, and other mental capabilities.
• Lead to gum damage and disease. How? Why? More on that is below.
• Reduce your Stamina, Virility, and Fertility and give you Digestive Issues. All-in-one! Fantastic!

According to CBS, Heavy smokers cut their lifespan by 13 years on average. And if you think about it, it kind of makes sense. You can't just inhale whatever you like and not expect it to have consequences. All that gray air goes inside your body and plays your lungs like a fiddle. The STUFF you do in your teen years will come back to bite you in your late 20s and 30s. Kick the habit before the habit kicks you!

Assassinate your friends and family with second-hand smoke.

The worst part is that some people smoke around children and women, exposing them to the same harmful chemical they inhale. According to the CDC, people exposed to second-hand smoke have an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. So, you're putting your children, siblings, parents, and friends in harm's way by expunging dense clouds of chemicals like a chimney. Kudos!

Look cool and trendy

According to the CDC, 90% of daily smokers pick up cigarettes before they are 18. Why do you think teens pick up more cigarettes? Most people pick up cigarettes in their teen years because they want to feel accepted. Some teens smoke because it makes them look cool! They hope to look like Scarface or John Constantine.

Here's the thing, lung cancer isn't cool; it's painful and practically incurable. Also, most of the celebrities who smoke in the rain, looking all edgy and broken, aren't even using real cigarettes. Here's how we know. Congratulations! You've been duped, bamboozled, and tricked!

Alternatives to Cigarettes

So now you know why you should rid yourself of cigs. Knowing why you are trying to quit and having a clear goal can help you quit smoking more easily. Mustering willpower is the first step, but sheer willpower won't be enough. Tobacco use leads to major nicotine dependence, in essence, a nasty addiction. Nicotine affects your mood, and whenever you try to quit, you experience withdrawal symptoms.

It's one of the reasons why less than 10% of adult smokers succeed in quitting. So, what can you do to quit successfully? You can use different, less harmful nicotine or tobacco products as substitutes for cigarettes. The goal is to reduce cigarette use by using adequate nicotine replacement therapy options to bypass all harmful kickbacks.

What are the alternatives?

• Vapes, E-Liquids, Pens (Not Safe)
• Chewing or Dipping Tobacco
• Nicotine Pouches/Nicopods
• Nicotine Patches or Lozenges

 

Which one should you use?

Let's talk about what you shouldn't use first to better understand the pecking order. You should never use Vapes, E-Liquids, or other inhalation devices, no matter how safe their branding is. In reality, smoking or vaping has the same lung, gum, and heart disease risk.

If you want a safe alternative, then go for the smokeless options. You'll have healthier lungs, heart, and better stamina. Some smokeless cigarette alternatives are less effective than others at curbing your cravings. There is no universally perfect alternative; each one has its pros and drawbacks:

• Snus: Swedish or Siberia Snus is a strong oral product made with tobacco. It is very effective at curbing cigarette cravings, but has tobacco and is a bit too strong for novices.
• Nicopods/Nicotine Pouches: These are tobacco-free pouches that come in different flavors and strengths. These are safer than Snus and way safer than cigarettes.
• Nicotine Gum and Lozenges: These options are approved by the FDA and have almost little to no adverse health effects. These products contain nicotine, but their effectiveness in curbing your cravings is debatable. 

We always recommend using nicopods because they guarantee a much better quit rate than some of the other alternatives. The best part is that they are readily available in most countries. But let's look into why you should use snus/nicopods. And what are these pouches?

What are nicotine pouches? 

Nicotine bags/pouches, also known as nicopods, are tobacco-free cigarette alternatives. These pouches are technically categorized as smokeless tobacco, but are entirely tobacco-free. Most modern nicopods contain synthetic nicotine, which is safer than the alternatives (I.e., the fish sticks of death, cigarettes!).

The products are placed between the upper lip and gum. You don't need to chew or swallow anything while using these pouches. Just sit back and wait for the nico-buzz. How do I know if the nicotine is kicking? It's hard to miss the nico-buzz. It practically hits you like Gordon Ramsay in Hell's Kitchen.

Products like Velo and ZYN are making waves around the world. Countries such as the US, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany are major consumers of these products. The variety of nicotine levels makes them perfect substitutes for cigarette users.

Why use nicotine pouches to stop smoking? 

‎For people who are beginners or occasional cigarette users, you should use oral nicotine pouches and lozenges. Heavy smokers should always go for snus/nicopods. It is safer than chewing and dipping tobacco and allows you to quit more easily. According to the NCBI, snus is the most common method used to get rid of cigarettes.

According to this same report, 90% of people tried and failed to quit because they didn't use an adequate alternative. Users of snus/nicopods can quit more easily without any significant kickbacks. The various strengths/levels and different types of flavored nicotine products make it a perfect alternative for every age and group.

Their quality and array of youth-friendly flavors make it easier for cigarette users to switch to nicotine pouches. The nicotine levels can exceed 26 milligrams of nicotine per pouch, which is more than enough even for seasoned smokers. 

The variance in strength allows cigarette users to use an adequate alternative, no matter how much nicotine they require. Additionally, nicopods don't damage your mouth like the alternatives. You can find out more about the correlation between gum disease and nicopods by reading the linked piece. 

With nicopods, you can lose your dependence on cigarettes more efficiently and still enjoy the same nico-kicks. It is one of the reasons why nicopods are increasing in popularity.

Who shouldn't use nicopods?

Although nicopods help in curbing your cigarette cravings, they have their own set of side effects. Nicotine in any form, be it pouches, cigarettes, or tobacco leaves, is highly addictive. As an addictive chemical, nicotine should be kept far away from children. Current regulations exist that prevent or restrict flavored nicotine pouch sales to minors.

However, there will always be a minority of shady sellers selling stuff to people who aren't meant to have them in the first place. Nicotine use during adolescence can lead to tons of different issues down the road. Addictive chemicals like nicotine can mess with your mental capacity in ways that you can't even imagine. So use it in modesty, and don't indulge in it if you don't want to be a lifetime nicotine or cigarette user.

Additionally, people with underlying health conditions should not use nicotine in any way or form. Pregnant women should also stay away from these pouches. If you're entirely new to nicotine pouches, you should first read on to get a better overview of what you can expect.

Other effective ways to quit smoking

You can use different methods to get rid of your cigarette addiction. Some of them are hits, and others are misses. What separates the hits from the misses? Is there some hidden tip or trick that allows some people to lose their addictions? Is there a hidden product that you can use? Sadly, there's no such thing as a miracle product that can eradicate your addiction overnight.

Think of your cigarette addiction in terms of breaking a bad habit. Breaking any lousy habit requires determination, willpower, and a fair bit of management. If you suddenly decide to take your leave from cigarettes in the morning but smoke "just one" (never really a "one" when you consider long-term data) in the evening, chances are your addiction isn't going anywhere.

Try and try again is a good motto to live by, but if your methods are wrong, you're just trying to brute force everything.

So, what can you do to break the smoking spiral?

The first thing that you need to do is to assess your current situation. How many cigarettes are you consuming per day? What are the triggers that force you to smoke? For some, a trigger can be a cup of coffee; for others, it's walking into their usual puffing spot. Isolating yourself from the trigger is one way of breaking your habit.

Second, use an adequate alternative. Nicotine pouches provide various doses, and you need to find one that fits your cravings. Too much of it will turn you into a devolved nico-head, and too less will be ineffective in curbing your cravings.

Occasional or light cig-users should go for something that gives them between 2 and 6 milligrams of nicotine. You can try ZYN Cool Mint or ZYN Mini Dry Spearmint (The weakest ZYN pouch). Read our World of ZYN guide to understand more about ZYN. You should also look at our Best Nicopods of 2022 and 10 Best Tobacco Free Nicotine Pouches list for some stellar recommendations.

Heavy cigarette users can use more potent versions like 24 mg/g pouches. Some notable strong products are Pablo Ice Cold and White Fox Black. Check out our Strong category to find some of our strongest picks. Also, in the initial phase of your cessation routine, you will have to use nicopods more frequently. Once the initial phase passes, you can reduce your intake of nicopods.

 

Take baby steps! Really?

Yes, it may not sound much, but taking baby steps is the best way to eliminate your addiction. Usually, people set unrealistic goals for themselves and lose all hope when they fail to achieve those goals. Set yourself up for success, not failure. Set goals that are achievable.

If you've been using cigarettes for a long time, you can't just suddenly lose the habit in a week. It may take you more than a month or two to reduce your intake. Cut down your cigarette consumption over time and slowly regain some semblance of health in your life. Drink more fresh juices and work out more if you can; it will do wonders for your mental and physical health.

Also, joining a group of fellow quitters or potential habit breakers will encourage you. Finding people going through the same addiction and watching them break free of it is oddly motivating. There are hundreds of online support groups that can have a positive impact. You should join one of these groups.

PTSD and smoking

Some people use cigarettes to cope with trauma, depression, or anxiety. If you are one of those users, getting help for your mental health is the first step to improving your condition. Mental health is no joke, and you should contact a professional.

If you can't do that, or if it's anything too personal, then at least join a support group. Things won't fix themselves magically, but you'll feel the difference if you put in the effort. So, please work on your mental health more.

 

That's all for now,

Take care, Snus-fam,

Snusdaddy.