SAN DIEGO — Archaeologist Doug Mengers holds lots of things in his hands, including decades-old artifacts. These days, Doug is taking fewer breaks after kicking his decades-old smoking habit. Doug says he started smoking when he was about 10 years old and by 15, he was a daily smoker.
Now a 48-year-old, Doug, who is also a historian, says smoking has been a huge part of his own history.
“It is decades of habit, ritual and routine," said Doug. "Sometimes when those cravings hit, I want a cigarette or some nicotine.”
Around five years ago, Doug switched from cigarettes to vaping. Sharp Reese Stealy Doctor Abi Olulade says the move is a common one among cigarette smokers. Dr. Olulade says it is true that vaping exposes the user to a lot less toxins than cigarettes, but that does not necessarily mean it is safe.
The latest CDC numbers on vaping show nearly 2,200 cases of lung injuries in the United States along with 42 deaths in 24 states, three in California alone. While most of the samples tested by the FDA showed THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, was present, doctors say vaping alone is still dangerous and can cause chronic lung illnesses.
Doctor Olulade says some vape pen cartridges have up to 20 times the amount of nicotine in one cigarette, add thing we are introducing a whole new generation to severe levels of nicotine addiction, possibly worse than cigarette smoking.
The convenience of vaping is another reason why it is so popular. Doug says the convenience has made it harder to quit. He said he is used to hitting the vape all day, throughout the day.
Eventually Doug realized vaping was not much of a tradeoff.
“Unless I am breathing clean fresh air, it is probably not good for me," said Doug.
That is precisely why he reached out to Sharp Rees-Stealy and Doctor Olulade to see what options were available.
Doctor Olulade said they introduced Doug to medications and counselors who could help him on his journey. In addition, Doug was also enrolled in Sharp’s Second Breath Tobacco Cessation program. The program is a free six-week class that can be done in person or online. Doug said he quickly realized it was going to be a bit of work, but they gave him the tools to be successful.
Those tools include medication and how to cope with cravings. The five to six smokers in each class support each other by celebrating the small successes. Doug said that one of his goals was to be able to return to the class and say that he didn’t smoke that week. He added that deep breathing has helped along with exercise. He says that when he goes jogging it gives him the “deep lung hit that he was getting [when vaping].”
Doug’s family and friends have seen him attempt to quit smoking countless times, but they say this time feels different.
News 8 tagged along when Doug gave Dr. Olulade an update on his progress.
“I have gone a month with no vaping and no smoking, so yeah, that is good,” said Doug.
Doug has put the money he was spending on vaping into a camping hobby and has been able to buy hundreds of dollars of camping gear in the past month.
Doug says he is looking forward to a smoke-free future.
If you are ready to quit smoking or vaping, you can enroll in Sharp’s Second Breath program by clicking here. It is free and open to the public, not just Sharp patients.
Dr. Abisola Olulade joined Morning Extra to talk about the newest developments in this growing crisis.
