Silliest Thing I've Ever Seen.......

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by RWood

I was as stunned as DG when I first saw one. A friend's daughter graduated from high school last spring she and all of her girlfriends were smoking them. The parents didn't seem to care since "it doesn't have any nicotine." (Forget that the packaging says otherwise, the parents bought that BS.) I've seen a bunch of them since then and it always seems to be females smoking them.

The nicotine in cigarettes is not especially harmful - it's the other stuff that kills you - so if this device only contains nicotine, without the other nasty things, it probably will satisfy the smoker's "craving" without doing so much harm as real cigarettes. I don't think one could call it "silly" from that perspective.

[pshrynk]

I prescribe a product called the Nicotrol Ihaler. It looks like a cigarette holder and has a cartridge that inserts and gives off nicotine. We use it to help stop smoking. Pretty effective for those who want to quit. It can also be used as a "healthier" substitute for those who just want to stop polluting their immediate environment. This looks like a variation on that theme.

[Peverel]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

I prescribe a product called the Nicotrol Ihaler. It looks like a cigarette holder and has a cartridge that inserts and gives off nicotine.

I can also recommend those - thats what I used - or a variation of it anyway

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

I prescribe a product called the Nicotrol Ihaler. It looks like a cigarette holder and has a cartridge that inserts and gives off nicotine. We use it to help stop smoking. Pretty effective for those who want to quit. It can also be used as a "healthier" substitute for those who just want to stop polluting their immediate environment. This looks like a variation on that theme.

so let me get this straight, and correct me please if I'm wrong.

You are prescribing something that contains nicotine, which is the addictive ingredient, to help others quit smoking? I can see the reason here.

Now, these people come up this this product, which CONTAINS nicotine, and markets it towards the general population, and the kids think its 'cool', because its "not really smoking or polluting the environment around you"
BUT it contains an addictive product?

Am I reading this right?

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

so let me get this straight, and correct me please if I'm wrong.

You are prescribing something that contains nicotine, which is the addictive ingredient, to help others quit smoking? I can see the reason here.

Now, these people come up this this product, which CONTAINS nicotine, and markets it towards the general population, and the kids think its 'cool', because its "not really smoking or polluting the environment around you"
BUT it contains an addictive product?

Am I reading this right?

Yeah, I think so. This is probably the tobacco industry's next attempt at remaining viable. They sell us products that have nicotine, which is their main product, but it's "healthy" inasmuch as it doesn't have the smoke or the tars. Sort of like "lite" beers that have reduced alcohol that are less fattening.

[kazbates]

As if our jobs as parents aren't hard enough.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

Yeah, I think so. This is probably the tobacco industry's next attempt at remaining viable. They sell us products that have nicotine, which is their main product, but it's "healthy" inasmuch as it doesn't have the smoke or the tars. Sort of like "lite" beers that have reduced alcohol that are less fattening.

No addictive drug is "healthy"

This may be a legitimate prescription for someone who is trying to kick the smoking habit, but doesn't the addiction to nicotine remain?

What do you do about that?

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The nicotine in cigarettes is not especially harmful - it's the other stuff that kills you - so if this device only contains nicotine, without the other nasty things, it probably will satisfy the smoker's "craving" without doing so much harm as real cigarettes. I don't think one could call it "silly" from that perspective.

I respectfully disagree. Any addictive drug is harmful.

When used to help smokers quit, if it helps, great. BUT there is still the nicotine addiction to be delt with.

[pshrynk]

In the caseof the nicotrol inhaler, we step down the dosing as the patient is able to tolerate. This looks like a commercial product that is aimed at inducing the addiction, since that's what the tobacco companies want to sell.

Addictions are not "healthy," hence the quotes. however, if there is a product that does not cause cancer, COPD, mouth rot, birth defects, etc, then I am for it being made available, even if it perpetuates addition of new addictions. The effects of all the other things in tobacco products is such a huge public health concern that will never be fully addressed by stop smoking campaigns that I can abide some nictoine addiction if there is reduced "side effects."

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

In the caseof the nicotrol inhaler, we step down the dosing as the patient is able to tolerate. This looks like a commercial product that is aimed at inducing the addiction, since that's what the tobacco companies want to sell.

Addictions are not "healthy," hence the quotes. however, if there is a product that does not cause cancer, COPD, mouth rot, birth defects, etc, then I am for it being made available, even if it perpetuates addition of new addictions. The effects of all the other things in tobacco products is such a huge public health concern that will never be fully addressed by stop smoking campaigns that I can abide some nictoine addiction if there is reduced "side effects."

I am so farkin' angry. It seems that at every turn, we are willing ourselves into a stupider, more destructive society.

and then............there's MobileRead.

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by desertgrandma

I am so farkin' angry. It seems that at every turn, we are willing ourselves into a stupider, more destructive society.

and then............there's MobileRead.

Well, I think that a case could be made that this is, in fact a step toward a more enlightened approach to nicotine use. It is not illegal, and if there is a less deadly form to use, then it may actually catch on. Mind you, I am not at all advocating for people to become addicted to anything. And nictine is one of the most addictive substances out htere. Butif it allows the nic addict to puff away in my presence and not harm either myself or him/her, then I can put up with it.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

Well, I think that a case could be made that this is, in fact a step toward a more enlightened approach to nicotine use. It is not illegal, and if there is a less deadly form to use, then it may actually catch on. Mind you, I am not at all advocating for people to become addicted to anything. And nictine is one of the most addictive substances out htere. Butif it allows the nic addict to puff away in my presence and not harm either myself or him/her, then I can put up with it.

You've failed ......wait, no actually I have failed to make myself clear.

Its not the medical use I'm objecting to.

Its the marketing towards the general public, and to kids in particular.
This guy was in the middle of a major mall, puffing away for all he was worth. Insisting it was a totally harmless product. (didn't know about the nicotine then, or this gma would have nailed him)

It may be a harmless product when medically prescribed, but is it for teens who have not taken up smoking? Who just want to look "cool"?

[pshrynk]

Let me try again.

Nicotine addiction = Not a good thing. Any addiction is not a good thing and nicotine is the top addictive substance.

Use of cigarettes or other straight tobacco products as nicotine delivery system = Very bad thing. It causes cancer, COPD, birth defects, and can kill me from across the room, even though I don't smoke.

Use of nicotine delivery systems without tars, etc from tobacco as a medical means of getting off nicotine = good thing.

Use of nicotine delivery system etc as a means of replacing tobacco as a means of being addicted to nicotine = see addictive substances, but also see tobacco use. It is not a great thing, but is not as bad as tobacco use straight up. I'd rather people not become addicted. If they must, and this is actually their choice, I'd rather see this sort of use than that with all the public health problems attached.

I'm not, at all, advocating being addicted. There are always problems associated. This is merely a lesser of two evils situation, in my opinion.

[desertgrandma]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

Let me try again.


I'm not, at all, advocating being addicted. There are always problems associated. This is merely a lesser of two evils situation, in my opinion.

No, I realize you aren't. 'sigh. sometimes I hate posting.....I haven't the words to say exactly what I mean.

[pshrynk]

No prob. I understand where you're coming from, and am in agreement with you. It's just that I have to deal with so much grey area with my job that I manage to see around lots of corners while doing it.