Snus for Recent Ex-Smoker?

[zoomzoom9]

Hey everyone, got a question for you. I've tried Snus before and used it to try to quit smoking, but it didn't work, I still needed the physical action of smoking. I couldn't break the habit of going out for breaks at work, smoking in the car, etc. I enjoyed the Snus, but it just wasn't enough.

About 5 weeks ago I went to a doctor who does auriculotherapy (which is basically like electrical acupuncture on your ears). Since then, I've been completely smoke-free. Apparently the auriculotherapy gets rid of the physical craving for nicotine, so once that was gone, it made it much easier to give up my daily smoking habits. This was seriously the closest I think you can come to a "miracle cure."

Since I've quit smoking, I'm constantly afraid I'm going to go back to it. Ironically, though, the idea of smoking a cigarette isn't really appealing to me any more (thankfully!). I constantly have dreams about going back to smoking though. I figure this is probably all fairly normal for a recent ex-smoker.

I did like Snus when I did it, even though it didn't help me stop smoking. I attribute that mostly to the routines I had set up, since I mostly smoked on a pretty regular schedule. Now I'm thinking that maybe I want to go back to Snus because I miss the buzz I used to get. I'm wondering if that would help ease the concerns about smoking, or if that might just bring back the urge to smoke?

Any thoughts? Better yet, anyone gone through this???

[bipolarbear1968]

Some people kicked the smoking habit with both snus and nasal snuff. You will get a little sensation with snuff. Have you tried this?

[zoomzoom9]

I haven't tried nasal snuff, but I'm not trying to kick the smoking habit since I've already quit smoking. I'm just wondering if I can fill this void that's been left now that I quit with Snus or if I'm just risking going back to cigarettes.

[Frosted]

If you've given up nicotine altogether snus will knock your head off.

I feel that it depends how badly this desire is affecting you. I gave up nicotine for 5 months and I was still going mad - so I'm snussing and my peace of mind is 100% on the nicotine front. It's up to you but I don't believe that the desire ever leaves you. If it's only an occasional desire - I'd stay off it.

I haven't touched a cigarette for two and a half years now.

[Frosted]

Maybe the reason why snus didn't take you off cigarettes in the first place is because you weren't using strong enough snus. What were you using?

[zoomzoom9]

I tried both Camel Snus and General, both the regular and mini packs. As far as I know, the General is supposed to be pretty decent.

[Mr. Snuffleupagus]

I broke the physical hand to mouth addiction with electronic ciggs and then switched to just snus. I have decided that I still love smoking and nicotine is just something I seem to need in my life. So I use snus for nicotine and smoke a pipe when I feel like smoking. I'm a true believer in harm reduction so I feel great about not smoking ciggs. I have no worries of going back to them. Limited success in some eyes, yes, but perfect for me.

Welcome to SnusOn!

[zoomzoom9]

If you've given up nicotine altogether snus will knock your head off.

I feel that it depends how badly this desire is affecting you. I gave up nicotine for 5 months and I was still going mad - so I'm snussing and my peace of mind is 100% on the nicotine front. It's up to you but I don't believe that the desire ever leaves you. If it's only an occasional desire - I'd stay off it.

I haven't touched a cigarette for two and a half years now.

After 5 months, was it that you were still physically craving a cigarette or did you feel like you missed the feeling you got when you smoked? I don't really physically crave cigarettes, but I do miss the feeling I used to get from smoking.

[zoomzoom9]

I broke the physical hand to mouth addiction with electronic ciggs and then switched to just snus. I have decided that I still love smoking and nicotine is just something I seem to need in my life. So I use snus for nicotine and smoke a pipe when I feel like smoking. I'm a true believer in harm reduction so I feel great about not smoking ciggs. I have no worries of going back to them. Limited success in some eyes, yes, but perfect for me.

Welcome to SnusOn!

I agree, I also believe in harm reduction and I'd prefer to stay away from cigarettes forever if possible, though I wouldn't mind enjoying a cigar once in a while. I enjoy the nicotine but don't want the harmful risks of constant cigarette smoking, plus my wife and I are expecting so I don't want my baby to grow up around a smoker. Do you think once you've broken the "rituals" addiction that you can safely move to Snus without redeveloping a craving to cigarettes?

[Frosted]

I missed the smell, I missed the nicotine effect.

If you give up smoking completely your brain immediately connects the lower nicotine in your blood with cigarettes because that's what you did to relieve the craving. My brain now connects lower nicotine in my blood with snus - so my brain tells me to reach for a snus instead of a cigarette. It didn't take long for that change to take effect - I'd say it took a few weeks of using extra starks. When I smell cigarette smoke now it doesn't trigger the "I've got to have a cigarette" response - in fact, it doesn't trigger anything when I smell cigarette smoke these days. When my blood nicotine lowers my brain now says "snus".

From what I hear Camel isn't good enough. In order to stay off the cigarettes initially, you must constantly keep nicotine in your blood. If it dips - you'll be more likely to smoke so the advice is (if you're going back to nicotine) keep up a reasonably high level of nicotine in your blood at all times at the beginning.

[Mr. Snuffleupagus]

I agree, I also believe in harm reduction and I'd prefer to stay away from cigarettes forever if possible, though I wouldn't mind enjoying a cigar once in a while. I enjoy the nicotine but don't want the harmful risks of constant cigarette smoking, plus my wife and I are expecting so I don't want my baby to grow up around a smoker. Do you think once you've broken the "rituals" addiction that you can safely move to Snus without redeveloping a craving to cigarettes?

Absolutely! But the best part is, if you do crave a cigg, you can have one. I've probably had 3 or 4 over the last year and a half. They really lose their magic with snus. You won't relapse and have to quit all over again. Like Sage always says "the best part about snus is you can have a cigg because you want to, not because you NEED to". But, if you like cigars, I think you will enjoy filling the urge for the smoking ritual with a cigar once in a while better than that occasional cigg.

This forum is full of success stories from people that used to have major cigg habits. One of the reasons I love to read this forum, is all the success stories, and watching snus win over new people. It changed my life and I like to be reminded by reading it change others.

[bipolarbear1968]

I do miss the feeling I used to get from smoking.

Nasal snuff might fill that void.

I started snuff going on 3 weeks now. I just love it.

[zoomzoom9]

Absolutely! But the best part is, if you do crave a cigg, you can have one. I've probably had 3 or 4 over the last year and a half. They really lose their magic with snus. You won't relapse and have to quit all over again. Like Sage always says "the best part about snus is you can have a cigg because you want to, not because you NEED to". But, if you like cigars, I think you will enjoy filling the urge for the smoking ritual with a cigar once in a while better than that occasional cigg.

This forum is full of success stories from people that used to have major cigg habits. One of the reasons I love to read this forum, is all the success stories, and watching snus win over new people. It changed my life and I like to be reminded by reading it change others.

Thanks, you make some good points. I think I may try Snus again now that I've quit the smoking habit to see if it will relieve me of my worries about relapsing to smoking. The way I view it, quitting smoking is a process that takes a long time, and I've been lucky enough to be able to kick the rituals that kept me addicted for so long. Anything I can do to keep myself from picking up another pack of cigarettes is probably a good thing!

[tom502]

If you are off the smokes, and don't have nic cravings, I really would recommend not doing snus, even though it's way better in all areas compared with smoking, it's still a vice, and you'll get addicted to it. I can only speak for myself, but I got into snus really to fight the extreme boredom of my job, as I had quit regular smoking long before, only occasionally smoking when drinking, but now I snus all the time, and even picked up dip and chew, and nasal snuff. And while all these things are enjoyable, apart from some gum wear concerns I have, I am now thinking about quitting it all at times, but then, I've been doing this for over a year, and this thought is a tug of war. So really, if you don't use nic regularly now, regardless if one might think it pleasurable, it's best to not.

[Mr. Snuffleupagus]

...quitting smoking is a process that takes a long time, and I've been lucky enough to be able to kick the rituals that kept me addicted for so long. Anything I can do to keep myself from picking up another pack of cigarettes is probably a good thing!

I agree with you. It can take a long time, and it really is a big deal IMO. I'm still an addict and have no desire to get off nicotine but that's just me. Some people can quit and be fine, others seem to benefit from the nicotine and it really helps them. Most of the people I talk to that quit ciggs all together cold turkey tell me the desire never ever goes away. My desire for a cigg is GONE and I feel great about that.