Quit smoking or vape, direct or indirect inhalation?

Quitting smoking, a public health issue

Every year, tobacco causes widespread devastation around the world. Indeed, more than 8 million people per year fall victim to the tragic consequences of smoking, whether active or passive. In France alone, no fewer than 73,000 annual deaths are attributed to illnesses caused by tobacco: cancers, cardiovascular diseases, etc.

Despite the reality of the facts and the constant rise in the price of cigarette packs, we know how difficult it is to quit when one is accustomed to nicotine and the additives found in cigarettes. Furthermore, it is worth noting that for some smokers, the addiction is partly based on the irresistible urge to produce smoke. 

There is no shortage of methods for quitting smoking: nicotine patches and gums, hypnosis, medication, therapies, etc. And yet, despite this variety of options, very few of them are truly effective. Indeed, what you need above all to increase your chances of successfully quitting smoking is a good dose of motivation!

The electronic cigarette, a substitution method that has proven its effectiveness

The e-cigarette is the result of years of research that led to the development of a significant solution to help smokers quit poisoning themselves. Well aware that mindset plays a predominant and almost decisive role in quitting, or at least reducing, tobacco consumption, the engineers behind the concept of the electronic cigarette deliberately chose to create a solution that closely resembles a traditional cigarette. Indeed, thanks to its elongated shape reminiscent of a cigarette and the fact that it produces vapor similar to smoke, the e-cigarette represents a perfect transition for smokers looking to quit. This vapor production is the result of vaporizing the e-liquid through the heating action of the coil and the battery. There is therefore no combustion as with a traditional cigarette and, as a result, far fewer harmful substances are produced and inhaled.

The various needs that a long-time smoker may express (holding a cigarette in their hand and in their mouth, taking a puff, or exhaling smoke) have therefore quickly been replaced by the use of the e-cigarette. This is partly the reason why more and more smokers are turning to this solution to quit with less difficulty — and why most of them succeed!

Furthermore, in addition to addressing these purely psychological reflexes, the electronic cigarette has also achieved a historic feat: enabling smokers to break free from their nicotine addiction by providing them with the necessary means to gradually reduce their dosage at their own pace and move closer to their goal. Indeed, the e-liquids available on the market come in varying levels of nicotine concentration (generally ranging from 2 to 20 mg/l). They can also contain no nicotine at all. The aim is to start at a high enough dosage to feel the hit (the scratching sensation at the back of the throat, as when smoking a cigarette) and to gradually reduce the doses by switching to less concentrated e-liquids. If all goes well, after a few months, you will have gone from a nicotine-heavy e-liquid to a nicotine-free e-liquid! Moreover, these e-liquids also come in different flavors to help the smoker through their tobacco withdrawal. For example, it is possible to opt for a tobacco-flavored e-liquid to make the transition easier. It is also possible to turn to different flavors (fruity, menthol, beverages, etc.) in order to completely break free from the grip of tobacco.

Today, the electronic cigarette has truly become mainstream and can be found in all kinds of forms. They no longer necessarily have the shape of a tube, but can take the appearance of larger and more technical rectangular Mods (more power, more battery life, greater capacity, more features, etc.).

Which type of inhalation should be favored when looking to quit smoking?

Have you just started using the e-cigarette to quit smoking? It is not always easy to know which vaping solution to choose when you are just starting out. That is why we have outlined the two existing inhalation methods, to help you find the one that best matches your profile.

Direct inhalation

Direct inhalation, or DL for "Direct Lung" (directly into the lungs), is the type of inhalation to favor if you want to produce a large amount of vapor. Indeed, vaping enthusiasts generally turn to DL to produce XXL vapor clouds worthy of a hookah! However, greater vapor production inevitably leads to higher energy and e-liquid consumption compared to indirect inhalation. Furthermore, the hit will also be much more pronounced.

Indirect inhalation

Indirect inhalation or MTL, which literally stands for "Mouth To Lung", is the vaping inhalation mode generally recommended to ex-smokers who are freshly beginning their transition to vaping.

As its name suggests, the inhaled vapor does not go directly into your lungs. Indeed, with indirect vaping, the vapor first stops in the mouth before heading to the lungs — in the same way as a traditional cigarette. This type of inhalation has the distinctive feature of producing a lower vapor density compared to direct inhalation; this is referred to as tight vaping. However, the flavors of your e-liquids are much better rendered, since the vapor makes a stop in the mouth, giving you time to appreciate it.