I was a smoker for over 25 years and tried quitting numerous times on my own. All of these attempts were unsuccessful. I was not even able to quit smoking while I was pregnant with my daughter, and I hated myself every time I smoked a cigarette while pregnant. At this time the only stop smoking products available were the patch and the gum. I tried both of them but was unable to kick the smoking habit. A few years ago my mother-in-law passed away from COPD. She was a long time smoker, and so due to my husband’s insistence I decided to try and stop again. I considered going to the doctor for a prescription, but was scared of some of the side effects of the Chantix drug, since it was essentially an anti-depressant. After searching for other options I came across the electronic cigarettes online. I initially tried my first electronic cigarette about 4 years ago. I started with the Blue electronic cigarette and also tried one from a mall kiosk. Neither of these products seemed to give me enough satisfaction, so I only used them for about 2 weeks total. I then began doing a little research on the internet and came across another website (Totally Wicked) that offered a more powerful electronic cigarette battery along with some cartridges (The Titan Tornado). I was marginally more successful with this product, but still was only able to stop smoking for about 3 weeks. At this point I was convinced that I would never be able to quit smoking, and had resigned myself to die a painful, horrible death due to emphysema, COPD or lung cancer. Six months ago I began working for a new employer. On my first smoke break I noticed a group of 5 of my co-workers using a device outside on the smoking patio. After talking with them I found out they were electronic cigarettes (They looked nothing like the kind that I had used in the past). I found out that they had all tried to quit smoking as part of their New Year’s resolutions, and were pretty successful with the electronic cigarettes. They began sharing their stories and information about how there was a store in Las Vegas that offered all of the supplies to get started. After talking about it for a few weeks with some other co-workers, two of us decided to give these new electronic cigarettes a try. My other co-worker had also tried using the previous versions unsuccessfully in the past, so neither of us were totally convinced this would work. She went to a smoke shop by her house and picked up the Ego kit. She let me try it out and I was amazed at how well the new electronic cigarettes worked. After talking more and more with my co-worker I began doing some more research online about electronic cigarettes. I came across a You Tube video by Grimm Green, and was immediately fascinated on the subject. After watching about 10 videos that night I went in to work the next day and shared all of my information with my co-worker. I also found another vapor shop close to where we worked and I went in and picked up an Ego kit. I tried it for a couple days, but then started smoking again off and on. I would tell myself to substitute the e-cig for every other cigarette, then every two, so on and so forth. A couple times I slipped and ended up smoking 4 or 5 cigarettes in a row before switching back to the e-cig. However, I was still went home every night and watched more videos and read more information online. So every day I would try again with the electronic cigarette. Both me and my co-worker would go back and forth between smoking and using the electronic cigarette, neither of us able to quit completely. This went on for about 3 weeks. Finally on April 18th, 2013 I decided that I was not going to buy any more cigarettes for at least a day. I told myself to just try and really commit to the e-cig, and if I decided after 1 whole day that I wanted a cigarette, then I would get one. Well, I used it for the entire day, and realized that I did not want or need a cigarette, so I decided to see if I could make it a week. After a week I was still satisfied with my e-cig and did not desire a real cigarette. I thought hoorah, I’ve finally kicked this nasty habit. Well, my true test and revelation came with the first after work happy hour which came about 2 weeks after switching to the e-cig completely. As many smokers will attest, drinking and smoking go hand in hand like movies and popcorn. So of course after our first few rounds of drinks everyone gathered outside for the smoke. Just out of habit I thought I wanted a cigarette. I borrowed one from one of my friends and it was the NASTIEST THING I HAVE EVER TASTED. All I could taste was burnt amonia in my mouth and it made me want to throw up. I kindly gave the cigarette, still smoking, back to my friend and have not tried one again. It has now been almost 3 months and I am so happy with the switch. My clothes do not stink. My hands to not stink. I can kiss my husband without feeling disgusting. I do not have to worry about subjecting my husband or my daughter to second-hand smoke. I do not have to go outside and smoke in 110 degree weather. I could go on and on about how happy I am with switching to the e-cigarettes. There are so many advantages, not to mention the hopeful health benefits. I am very distraught about all of the upcoming legislation regarding the e-cigarettes. I feel that big tobacco has such a powerful hold on the legislators that they are going to ruin this opportunity for me as well as for thousands of other vapers. Obviously tobacco’s agenda is not for the health and well-being of the smokers. I do hope that in this day in age of social media and internet communication the vaping community can come together and form a voice that will stand up to tobacco and the legislators and get what is truly best for all of us. This is why I have joined CASAA, and this is why I am writing this story. I hope that my story is helpful for those thinking about or trying to stop smoking and switch to vaping. It is not an easy thing to do, that is for sure. But the most important thing is to just keep trying. Don’t give up! Eventually, you too will have that moment where you taste a cigarette and realize, this is disgusting! I do not want to put any more unknown chemicals in my body! I do not want to keep ruining my lungs with every puff! There is so much support and information out there now on vaping, that you can and will achieve this!!