Fil-Am vapers agree e-cigarettes helpful for quitting tobacco

By Rommel Conclara, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

May 22, 2014

DALY CITY, Calif. – While it looks like smoking, it’s really not.

These Fil-Ams are using e-cigarettes and the term for it is “vaping”.

E-cigarettes are battery powered devices that emit nicotine through vapor.

A recent University College London study cites that smokers who are trying to quit are 60 percent more successful if they switch to e-cigarettes than using nicotine products or plain willpower.

The study surveyed almost 6,000 smokers who were trying to quit without the help of a health professional.

These Filipinos in the Bay Area opened up a vapor store to help people stop smoking cigarettes.

Jordan Anabeza says he used to smoke cigarettes all the time until he discovered e-cigarettes.

“I’m a prime example. I went from a pack a day to being clean for about six months now. Vaping helped me and vaping helped a lot of other people who come into the shop all the time,” Anabeza said.

Vaping is reportedly healthier than smoking cigarettes because it does not contain tobacco and other chemicals that regular cigarettes contain.

Anabeza’s store gets a wide range of customers who are trying to quit even cancer patients who just need to simulate smoking.

“All sorts, all ages, girls, guys, even cancer patients come in all the time and they always tell us that it helps them out,” Anabeza said. “For some people it’s different. For some people it’s the nicotine. It gives them that nicotine rush they need.”

Knowing that they are helping others become healthier is rewarding.

“It makes me feel accomplished,” Anabeza said. “That’s our mission as shop owners to get people to stop smoking cigarettes completely. That’s even our mission statement: “Kick the habit, gain a lifestyle.” Get a lifestyle out of vaping. It’s not just the hype or a habit. It’s a lifestyle for us.”

Moreover, these vapers say e-cigarettes are more economical.

According to the American Lung Society, the average pack of cigarettes in the United States costs $6, including taxes.

A pack-a-day smoker will spend roughly $30 a week or $1440 a year.

According to Anabeza, the average vapor starter kit costs between $30 to $80 with about $40 a month to re-fill the liquid.

This means using e-cigarettes will save a user at least $900 a year.

But vaping does not get all good reviews.

Another recent study by the JAMA Internal Medicine Journal claims e-cigarettes do little to stop smoking, calling e-cigarette’s effectiveness for cessation “unconvincing”.

You can contact Rommel Conclara at rommel_conclara@abs-cbn.com for more information.