Innovations and technological advancements have undoubtedly changed how we do many things today. One of these things includes the act of smoking. While traditional ways of smoking once ranged from cigarettes to tobacco pipes, smoking today comes in many different forms. Aside from the act of smoking itself, however, technology has also changed the way people approach smoking cessation. Quitting applications on smartphones come to mind, but new alternatives are also being studied. 

Researchers from the University Hospital of Dijon recently looked at the effects of noninvasive brain stimulation on smokers. Noninvasive brain stimulation, in this case, comes as a “brain zap” using low-intensity electric or magnetic impulses.

Outside of technologies meant for straightforward smoking cessation, some smokers have also turned to alternatives to cigarettes — both high-tech and low-tech — to indulge in less harmful ways of consuming nicotine or even help ease off the smoking habit entirely. As part of our quest to be on top of everything tech, we’ll look at some of these innovative cigarette alternatives:

Electronic Cigarettes

Also known as vapes, e-cigarettes produce an aerosol by heating a special e-liquid that usually contains nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals. Vapes and e-cigarettes, however, have recently come under fire amidst health concerns and FDA regulations regarding their long-term health effects on users.

Studies on the health impact of e-cigarettes still lack the data to determine long-term results, but based on research published in Respiratory Research, the long-term effects of all flavor chemicals used by this industry remain unknown as they are usually excluded in product labels. Research also found that chemicals in e-liquids are detrimental to human health, along with a mislabeling problem surrounding the nicotine content of e-liquids.

Heated Tobacco Products

Like e-cigarettes, heated tobacco products (HTPs) are a popular cigarette alternative for smokers. According to research, HTPs from brands such as IQOS and Glo are known to expose people to fewer toxins than cigarettes, but still more than not using tobacco at all.

While visually similar looking to e-cigarettes, HTPs differ by heating tobacco leaves or sheets instead of e-liquid. Companies producing HTPs claim these produce much less harmful chemicals than conventional cigarettes. Some smokers also report stopping smoking cigarettes completely after switching to HTPs.

Nicotine Pouches

Aside from electronically powered cigarette alternatives, smokeless options are also gaining market attention in recent years. ZYN nicotine pouches sold online at Prilla are created by the brand Swedish Match, which designed the product with American consumers in mind. Small in size, nicotine pouches are placed between the user’s upper lip and teeth.

They have become a discreet, smoke-free alternative for smokers to access nicotine in public spaces without inconveniencing others around them. Like e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches come in various flavors and low-level nicotine strengths without producing aerosol, vapor, or smoke. They are also a preferred option for people who travel to places where smoking may be prohibited.

Nicotine Patches

Another smokeless alternative, nicotine patches have been a welcome and effective option for smokers looking to quit the habit. Researchers found that nicotine patches increase a smoker’s chances of successfully quitting by about 50-60%.

While not necessarily a technological innovation, nicotine patches administer specific amounts of nicotine to the user through the skin without exposing the user’s body to the countless other harmful chemicals and ingredients contained in cigarettes.

Nicotine Gummies

Finally, nicotine gummies contain nicotine in the form of gummy candies. Most gummy candies contain 1mg of nicotine per gummy, with each container holding 12 gummies. Similar to nicotine pouches, nicotine gummies are an oral alternative to cigarettes that smokers can turn to as a method to quit the habit entirely.

Since nicotine gummies don’t produce smoke or contain the usual chemicals in most tobacco products, they are deemed a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes.

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