Okay, I know from the get-go, that using another nicotine delivery device is really NOT quitting smoking. But let me just share my exp with the ecig....
A 35 year smoker, me, who has tried every, I mean EVERY, means of quitting from prescription Chantix (made me insanely anxious) to the patch, to gum, to cold turkey, I've been unsuccessful ... over many, many attempts to quit over the entire 35 years. I guess I'm just weak, but I also believe there is something IN cigarettes other than just the nicotine from tobacco. I mean an addictive something the tobacco companies add (other than the many chemicals and carcinogens) to enhance dependence and addiction. I say this primarily because of my recent exp with the ecig.
Before purchasing an ecig kit, I did a lot of research. They are manufactured in China but you can order the "juice" from American manufacturers. I bought mine back in Dec '09.
From the first puff, I no longer wanted a tobacco cigarette. After a couple of weeks, I realized I could choose not to puff on the ecig and I didn't have the anxious deprived feeling of trying to quit. Now, I can take it or leave it, truly. I still take a puff on the ecig every so often, just because it's enjoyable, but I also, for many days at a time, simply don't want to fool with it! That's amazing, considering I could never have done that with a tobacco cigarette.
I'm not advocating that you go out and buy the ecig kit. I just wanted to share my exp as a lifelong smoker, and the ease with which I've been able to get away from that obsession with smoking. For example, I could go on a trip for days, weeks, and not have to take the ecig along with me, and I'd be fine. I could never have done that when I was an active smoker.
In fact, when I bought the ecig, I did so with the intention of using it as a quitting device, though at the time I had my doubts. Now I can say for certain that it has been the most effective means of quitting for me.
Patty