Explaining harm reduction to parents

[dman21]

I recently came out to my parents about my new found e cigarette and snus usage as a way of curbing my smoking habit, and of course they are skeptical. I told them snus is regulated by the Swedish government and is less harmful than smoking. As I told them, my reasons for beginning to go "on the wagon" so to speak, are because I don't have time to smoke, smoking is banned at my school, and my grandma is dying a slow and painful death due to lung cancer more than likely caused by smoking. I just have to accept that they are set in their ways and mindset that the only way to quit is cold turkey. What I like about e cigs and snus is that you can continue enjoying nicotine, but get all the benefits of not smoking. This is just frustrating. Honestly, prior to learning about the concept of harm reduction, I would not have given much thought into quitting smoking. This quells my fear, which is not having nicotine, which other than the habit, is a substance I quite enjoy. It just floors me that my eight year old little brother understands the whole concept of harm reduction and even encourages me to continue this, but not my parents, which I'm assuming is in part a generational thing. Any thoughts?

[devilock76]

I am going to assume you are under 18, therefore the problem has to do with you acquiring and using products that you are supposed to be 18 years or older to procure.

Ken

[dman21]

I am going to assume you are under 18, therefore the problem has to do with you acquiring and using products that you are supposed to be 18 years or older to procure.

Ken

FYI, I am 21 years old and live on my own.

[Thunder_Snus]

Everyone is a skeptic of snus and will continue to be until they take 5 minutes to research it themselves. Only person I convinced? My girlfriend because she set out to prove me wrong. It's ok just live your life dman. I dont tell people about my snus habit until they see me putting a fresh one in inbetween calls at work. They're usually pretty interested but they still keep telling me I"ll get mouth cancer even as they slowly stop going outside to smoke more and more and ask me for snus.

[dman21]

Everyone is a skeptic of snus and will continue to be until they take 5 minutes to research it themselves. Only person I convinced? My girlfriend because she set out to prove me wrong. It's ok just live your life dman. I dont tell people about my snus habit until they see me putting a fresh one in inbetween calls at work. They're usually pretty interested but they still keep telling me I"ll get mouth cancer even as they slowly stop going outside to smoke more and more and ask me for snus.

I think this right there is the problem. People are misinformed. My main reason for coming out was because I wanted to encourage some family members of mine to put down the smokes and start vaping and/or snusing instead as a way of reducing harm. Until people open their minds, I guess it is what it is. As they say, you can bring a horse to the water, but you can't make them drink it. My parents and immediate family should just be happy I'm on my way to quitting the smokes. But of course they will stop at nothing until I quit consuming tobacco and nicotine altogether.

[Ansel]

I imagine it harder to talk to your parent's about harm reduction if they are not tobacco users themselves.

[dman21]

I imagine it harder to talk to your parent's about harm reduction if they are not tobacco users themselves.

My father is a smoker who has made many half hearted attempts to quit.

[Ansel]

My father is a smoker who has made many half hearted attempts to quit.

My Dad smokes cigars. I've tried to get him to take up snus but he won't listen to anything about it though is happy for me to snus and has seen the positive changes it has given me. My Mum would think all tobacco is dangerous so i haven't attempted to tell her.

[bill77.017]

My father is a smoker who has made many half hearted attempts to quit.

My father is the same. I explained to him about harm reduction and the benefit of Snus but he just keeps on smoking. He's tried a couple of portions but says it's not for him? It's like when they get to a certain age there's a mental block or something, and they won't try anything new, like they are too old fashioned. I'm not letting him off the hook that easy though, i'll keep at him.

[dman21]

My father is the same. I explained to him about harm reduction and the benefit of Snus but he just keeps on smoking. He's tried a couple of portions but says it's not for him? It's like when they get to a certain age there's a mental block or something, and they won't try anything new, like they are too old fashioned. I'm not letting him off the hook that easy though, i'll keep at him.

Tell him to try e cigs. They give you the sensation and quick hit of smoking. I had the same road block trying just snus alone. Sometimes, you just want that quick hit and throwing in a snus is just inconvenient. Besides that, sometimes I just prefer smoking to snus. This is something that has helped me cut down drastically along with the snus. I roll my own cigarettes right now and when I finish this bag I'm on, now with the e cigs and snus, I feel ready to try taking the plunge and cutting out regular cigs altogether. I'm starting to prefer e cigs and snus to regular cigs anyway and I find I'm starting to feel the burn from the smoke in my lungs.

[bill77.017]

Tell him to try e cigs. They give you the sensation and quick hit of smoking. I had the same road block trying just snus alone. Sometimes, you just want that quick hit and throwing in a snus is just inconvenient. Besides that, sometimes I just prefer smoking to snus. This is something that has helped me cut down drastically along with the snus. I roll my own cigarettes right now and when I finish this bag I'm on, now with the e cigs and snus, I feel ready to try taking the plunge and cutting out regular cigs altogether. I'm starting to prefer e cigs and snus to regular cigs anyway and I find I'm starting to feel the burn from the smoke in my lungs.

I bought him an E-cig and he tried it for about 3 days. Now it's just lying in a drawer and he won't touch it, it's not the same as a real cigarette!!!

I wish you every success dman21 if you do take the plunge and give up the cigs, it's not easy for some people i know. But it can be done. : )

[dman21]

I bought him an E-cig and he tried it for about 3 days. Now it's just lying in a drawer and he won't touch it, it's not the same as a real cigarette!!!
I wish you every success dman21 if you do take the plunge and give up the cigs, it's not easy for some people i know. But it can be done. : )

What kind of e cig did you buy him?

[bill77.017]

What kind of e cig did you buy him?

It was one of these;

http://www.smokegreen.ie/

They come in mild, strong and extra strong.

[Ansel]

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.

[bill77.017]

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.

That's exactly it!!! For a smoker, its hard to change when you get something in your head and refuse to see the other choices that are available. The hospitals are full of people who wish they had.