A stop smoking program will only ever be successful, if the smoker is fully comitted to stop smoking at the very outset. Those that are have a good chance to succeed, some will stop for a while and some will unfortunately fail. The stop smoking program using electronic cigarettes does two things: as soon as you start you are cutting out nearly all of the factors that contribute to the well-documented smoking related diseases, while making the quitting program relatively easy by continuing to satisfy your nicotine cravings and associated smoking needs.

Electronic cigarettes are not marketed as a method to stop smoking. They are generally just for those who have tried and failed to give up smoking using conventional methods. The stop smoking program I have used, however, has been a very effective method both for me and for several acquaintances that have also tried it.

First a little about electronic cigarettes: An electronic cigarette is a device that looks and feels like a conventional cigarette and is used in much the same way with the difference that it delivers only nicotine (the stuff you crave) to your lungs and none of the thousands of harmful substances that tobacco does. The electronic cigarette does this by electronically vapourising nicotine when you suck on the device. The vapour looks, feels and tastes much like smoke, but isn’t. Remember that the nicotine is not what’s bad for you. It’s the other chemicals and poisons. Nicotine itself has been compared to caffeine in its harmfulness.

Now my stop smoking program: the replacement nicotine cartridges for the device are available in “strong”, “medium”, “low” or “no” nicotine (16mg, 11mg, 6mg and 0mg equivalent respectively).

Week 0: You start by replacing your usual tobacco-based cigarette with a few puffs on your “strong” electronic cigarette. Every time you fancy a smoke, just take it out of your pocket and away you go. Please take care not to overuse: a normal cigarette gets used up after 10-20 puffs, so make sure you only take a similar number of puffs on you electronic cigarette.

Week 2-3: After a while, when you have got used to your new electronic cigarette, switch from “strong” to “medium” strength cartridges. The good thing about this is that it gives you all the bits you’d be missing if you tried to quit “cold turkey”, but it doesn’t harm you. The transition shouldn't be too difficult. Still make sure you don't overuse.

Week 4-6: Switch to the “low” nicotine cartridges, again making sure not to overuse. You are now barely inhaling 1/3 of the drug that you did at the beginning of the stop smoking program.

Week 7-8: You can now switch to the "zero" nicotine cartridges and you’ll be nicotine free. You are inhaling scented vapour. You are no longer addicted to nicotine. Well done.

Like every stop smoking program, it does take time and commitment. But it's a hell of a lot easier than all the other methods I've tried. Not to mention all the other benefits along the way. I did it in two months. I found it easy, stress-free and fulfilling. It’s also a lot cheaper than using normal cigarettes. Try it.