How long until the snus won?

[Roo]

I've been using snus for 1 week shy of 3 years. During the past 3 years I went through 1 long period of smoking relapse that just ended quite recently. From September of last year until a few weeks ago, although I didn't really mention it on this forum, I was smoking pretty regularly and also using snus. For some reason when I went back to it I became a menthol smoker. As of maybe 2 weeks ago I'm completely smoke free again. But going back to 3 years ago when I quit the first time, I actually quit smoking the day I got my Northerner sample box and tried snus for the very first time. I felt at the time, and posted a lot about it when I first joined here, that it was just way too easy to quit smoking with snus. I still think that, And that was back when Skruf and Nick and Johnny were the strongest. So although I relapsed for a very extended period until recently, I can also say from experience that it's quite possible and, in my opinion, surprisingly not difficult to make the shift instantly with no residual cigarette dependence. It does take some sacrifice and certainly some willpower for a few days, but soon enough you realize the snus takes care of your primary addiction, which is tobacco. Many people tell themselves they are addicted also to the ritual of smoking, the hand-to-mouth fixation, that morning cig, blah blah, but in my humble opinion when the bullshit is stripped away we are tobacco addicts -- more specifically nicotine addicts -- and it's as simple as that. Snus obviously provides plenty of both, so I think what it takes to finally toss the pack of cigs is a good bit of mental commitment and nothing more. You will get your nic and be OK.

For what it's worth, the reasons behind my resuming smoking were twofold: traveling to France and Malaysia, where smoking is practically a national passtime and where it felt natural and familiar to smoke, and also PACT, when for the longest time I felt like I could no longer afford snus. Some awesome people here helped me through that tough time, so I was able to continue using snus and also supplement my addiction with cigs and General from the local shop. Anyway I'm happy to report that I finally placed a big order and got my Odens back, and I have once again turned my back on cigarettes in favor of the mighty snus, and again I'm finding it pretty easy. So good luck, mh_logic, you can do it brother.

[mh_logic]

Thanks Roo! I've realized tonight that if I put a little effort into opening a can instead of lighting a cig it gets easier. Los is certainly a tasty treat after a good meal.

Much better to be a snus connoisseur than a 2 pack a day chain smoker.

Thanks for the replies, guys. Very helpful for sure.

[heders]

2 years. But I didn't wanna quit first... But since I first tried snus I smoked less and less and now I'm completely smoke free.

[Ansel]

3 weeks roughly

[truthwolf1]

Whenever I see a thread like this it always takes me back to those first two weeks and how hard it was.

I tapered down and then quit but used Snus as a way to make the withdrawls easier. It was really bad for a good month even with Snus.
It took a pretty long time to really quit the urges. Maybe six months was a good start but I seemed to feel really good after about a year or longer.

[Veganpunk]

It took four months for me. (with a little help from nasal snuff as well!)

[BrianC]

It was probably 6-8 months for a full transition for me. It was only a few weeks that I was smoking and snusing regularly. After that initial first few weeks I would just smoke here and there when I got the urge, I didn't deprive myself of the urge. After the first 8 or so months I was able to consider myself fully smoke free.

[Ansel]

Cigarettes are crap. Stick a sterk in!

[desirexe]

Wow...18 months??? I'd say it took me about a month..but maybe I am not fully transitioned yet as I did just smoke a few cigs this weekend while drinking. Naw..I'm transitioned because I hated each cigarette! Paid $9 for the pack at a bar and ended up tossing the rest the next day. What a waste of money!

[stubby2]

It took me less then two weeks after I started using snus and for me it wasn't hard at all. But then after 40 years of smoking I was glad to finally get off the smokes. The thrill was gone but there was no way I was going to quit. It was catching up with me so when I found out about snus I embraced it big time.

I understand the part about the quick hit. That's the part I struggled with for the first year or so. I missed that blast I got from a cigarette. Snus is a bit on the slow side and it can take awhile to adjust. I was bad in the morning. I couldn't even get out of bed in the morning without a cigarette. One thing that helped is using the Northerner purified snus. It's quicker hitting then regular snus so I used that first thing in the morning to get my nicotine level going. I also do one if I wake up at night. I need it to get back to sleep.

Snus is not the same as smoking and there is a transition period. What worked for me is to not compare it to smoking and embrace snus for what it is. A lot of smoking is just habit and routine. What worked for me is to create a different routine around snus. It's got the goods so it's wasn't a big sacrifice. In fact it was no sacrifice at all once i got through the transition.

[badlands]

Immediately for me. I used camel frost. it kept me away from cigarettes but I was still having a little nicotine withdrawal. I got those General sample packs and found the OP was just what I needed. Next thing you know I was orderin Onyx and Claq Qui by the rolls.

[Fazer]

I went from 25 years on the cigs > nicotine patches > snus in about 3 weeks

[spinyeel]

I tried every method of quitting cigarettes. 30 to 40 White Ox per day,for as long as I care to remember. Once I decided to try Snus,giving up was very easy. In fact it was instant. I don't miss the coughing that's for sure and even importing Snus to Australia is a hell of a lot cheaper than smoking. A 50 gram pouch of tobacco and papers is around $AU36 over here. That will get me a 440 gram roll of Thunder Los.

[Owens187]

Less than a week for me. Chain sterkin' Thunder worked for me. Havent had a cigarrette since.

[Snus Boost]

I got down to about 8 cigarettes a day while I used Camel SNUS after about 2 weeks . The day I got my first order from Northerner I woke up late without any cigarettes. Within 5 minutes UPS was here and I haven't smoked a cigarette since.