I was diagnosed with asthma as a young child. Both my parents and all of my grandparents smoked. I started smoking Marlboro Red’s 24 years ago when I was entirely too young to understand (or care) about the health risks. I quit, only because I was pregnant, and for 12 ,months I did not have a cigarette, but I returned to the habit when my daughter was 4 months old. I smoked 1 & 1/2 packs a day on average for 22 years, sometimes more, seldom less. My husband hated it, my daughter hated it, I knew it was unhealthy and I have seen the horrible effects over and over on my family and friends but I couldn’t kick the habit. I tried numerous times to quit and and actually succeeded on a few occasions, though only temporarily. Methods I tried included; *The patch-I still craved the physical act and got sick when I combined smoking with the patch, so I threw the patches away. *The quit smoking medications – I had HORRIBLE side effects, and never, even for one day, did I quit smoking. *The gum- that was just GROSS! *Cold turkey- This actually worked a couple of times, until I smelled a cigarette or got stressed/upset/worried/etc., and there I was, buying cigarettes again, however, everyone was almost relieved when I picked it back up because at least I was tolerable to be around when I smoked. *The 3-day cleanse- I never made it past the first day. I am sure there are many other methods that I can’t remember (it was 22 years worth of attempts). On December 06, 2011, my mom (who has smoked for 38 years) and I went to a vapor store. We heard about it several months prior but just weren’t sure. The day we went to check it out we both bought a starter kit and 2 bottles of liquid. The ONLY reason I decided to chance this was because the liquids were a pretty tasty alternative to 4000 chemicals wrapped in paper, and I could vape just about anywhere. We started on them the next morning, Dec 07, 2011. I decided to give this a real shot and not smoke if I didn’t absolutely have to. Well, on Dec. 12, 2011 I decided I wanted to sit and smoke with a friend. I lit a cigarette, took a drag, and thought I was going to vomit! It tasted like I licked the bottom of an ash-tray. I immediately put it out and NEITHER MY MOM OR I HAVE TOUCHED A CIGARETTE IN WELL OVER A YEAR. For 18 years, I tried to quit, and either completely failed or went back soon after quitting. Now, the smell makes me sick, I have saved several thousand dollars, my family doesn’t have to smell it or be exposed to the thousands of dangerous chemicals from the second-hand smoke (at least not from me anymore) and I don’t crave them at all. My health has improved, I don’t wheeze any more, I’m not short of breath and I have not used an inhaler in over a year! Electronic-cigarettes, I believe with out a doubt, have saved mine and my mothers life. She was in the heart hospital a year before we switched to electronic cigarettes and without them, she never would have quit smoking. I must say, I can endure the strange looks we sometimes get much easier than buying multiple products and trying multiple methods that CONTINUALLY failed over and over again! I, and many, many others, have had nicotine in my system for many more years than not. I did not want to quit smoking when I started the electronic cigarette; I wanted to quit poisoning myself and everyone around me. NOW, my ultimate goal is to be completely free of the addiction to nicotine, and this way I am eliminating it at a pace that suits me and does not (placebo or not) stress me out. I am down to a level that is almost nicotine free and for the first time ever I am able to say I am not a smoker and have no fear that I will ever go back to smoking cigarettes. The flavor of the e-liquids gives me a variety, a change, and when I want something sweet – I vape Vanilla Cupcake. 😀 Thank you E-cigs for giving me and especially my family a breath of fresh air!!!