MASON CITY – A North Iowa man that had smoked for years says he kicked the habit with the help of an e-cigarette.
Rick Pierce, who lives in Ventura and works in Mason City, says he smoked cigarettes for about 16 years when he decided enough was enough.
“I knew it was time to quit,” Mr. Pierce said.
A solution for his cigarette habit was soon found in a device called an e-cigarette, sometimes known as a “personal vaporizer.”
“I found a cheap version of an electronic cigarette and decided to give it a try,” Mr. Pierce said, before later upgrading to a more expensive model.
An e-cigarette has an inhaler that vaporizes a mixed liquid solution (sometimes called e-liquid) into an aerosol mist, that may or may not contain nicotine. There is a wide range of flavors and mixtures that can be used in the device.
“You can get just about any flavor you can think of,” Mr. Pierce explained. “I made this (recipe) myself. This is a mixture of milk chocolate, almond, honey, all kinds of stuff.”
Nictotine strength in the e-liquid can range from 6 milligrams to 32 milligrams, and the device can be set to burn “hotter” to create a more powerful “drag.” Mr. Pierce chose an 18 milligram nicotine strength in his e-cigarette. “I’m allowed to smoke it at my workplace.”
The e-cigarette emits a “harmless water vapor” that is “similar to a fog machine.” The devices are not outlawed in public places.
“It’s a safer way to smoke,” Mr. Pierce said. “You don’t get any of the cancer-causing carcinogens. A lot of my friends are using these, helped them quit smoking. It’s equally enjoyable to a cigarette. It takes awhile to get used to it.”
Mr. Pierce gets much of his e-cigarette accessories at provape.com.
Mr. Pierce also recommended the “Iowa Vapers” group on Facebook for anyone interested in getting off cigarettes and trying e-cigarettes.
“I’m happy to help anyone that wants to get off the real ‘analog’ cigs and switch to electronic or e-cigs because it is the future and I believe it saves lives. It saved my dad’s life.”