I started right around 20 years old, offered by friends in college, said no (probably went on a couple times). Eventually had some time to burn while waiting for brothers stopped at gas station and wound up with grizzly pouches. First one didn't last long and I remember saying this is fucking dumb why would anyone put this in their mouth, how can it be addictive, got a little dizzy too. For whatever reason later that day I snuck away (to the outskirts of 7 acres) to toss another one in without a time limit to stare at the sky and figure out what it was about. The first one probably had me, the second backed it up, after that I can't remember what happened with the rest of the pouches.
It didn't take long, I moved through the flavors; straight, wintergreen, then finally mint (copenhagen, grizzly started it but didn't stick around). I swapped flavors when I threw up or came close to throwing up with them, and reaching that point I couldn't ever use the flavor again. For some reason mint when it came out didn't seem to ever get to throwing up, so never had to switch from that (thinking at-least 5 years, maybe longer). (Gutted when I couldn't do anything else, tried to use an opaque bottle etc when possible). I'd pick up wintergreen if mint wasn't available and managed for a couple dips. Straight was untouchable.
Anyway I'm 29, will be 30 towards the end of September. Had a half year break in 2017, and known I needed to quit again since then. Not sure where that went (I have the excuses but fuck those). I can't even really say what got me started this time... I know during my 2017 break I had set the date to my birthday. I'd been thinking about cutting down on Copenhagen for a while... if I can just save a pinch or two a week, I wont have to buy a can a day; and thinking I could ever get back to 1-2 cans a week. There isn't any going backwards, when you feed yourself a can a day the only way you're doing less than that is you're sleeping for 3 /4th the day.
You will never cut back, don't fucking bother. I could've told you that 5 years ago, but 4 years ago I decided one more wouldn't hurt, I could do a couple every now and then. I don't think it was even a week before I getting way beyond my old usage. I guess to keep you from leaving again nicotine gets you to double your usage (or maybe your (my) addict self decided to double the dosage). Oh you know, 4 years ago I was bored in a hotel room, or maybe I was too stressed trying to deal with classes 5 states away while working for the university I was going to, or my boss was getting to me after 4 days being around him most of the waking hours. All bullshit excuses, why after 170 days?
Be better than me, I didn't have a network. The first person I said "nah sorry i'm quitting, don't have any" was a coworker that would grab a pinch once a week or so. And the bad thing is the first time he asked I was ~25 and told him no initially because I didn't want to be the asshole giving access. So I knew I should be done well before then. And still went back 4 years ago, and told myself "I'll quit after this trip". Technically yes, me being here now is "after" but my past self can fuck off. Why didn't I write "I'll quit tomorrow", or "I'll quit on x day (after trip)" because a tiny dip in the lip and almost throwing up from the smell and taste had me fully back in the loop after half a year.
Don't throw it away like I did. Build a group around you. Tell everyone you know.
I hid everything in the past, and was pretty good at it like most of us. I got called out a few times, and just learned to hide it better. My dad called me on it once, then ignored it (I'm sure he noticed)... last time I could never bring myself to tell any of my family, or admit it. I've told my brother that I've quit. Will tell my dad next, something I would've never admitted to in the past. They'll be the first to call me on any bullshit, and I should've mentioned it the first time around, but I was afraid of too much bitching driving me to go find a can of shit.
So don't be me, do it sooner, do it the first time, or never fucking start packing shit in your lip.
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Day 9 (7.9.21) - [Day 9 because time of day isn't counted on ktc]
Some cravings in the morning, and not really sleeping great (waking up every couple hours). Posted roll couldn't think of any comment to add this morning, hopefully that's ok.
Tried several of the fake chews over this week. Not trying to do a full review but: (all nicotine free since some offer different versions I guess?)
Smokey Mountain - Wintergreen hit the flavor. But not a great fan of wintergreen.
Fully Loaded - Mint & Wintergreen are pretty close to texture but lacking the flavor. Tastes just slightly more than paper.
Bacoff - Mint pretty close in texture. Tastes like paper.
TeaZa (pouches) - Some variety pack... pretty decent flavor that shows tea the longer its in. Probably my favorite so far.
dryv (pouches) mint : Not terrible but seems like cheap coffee taste comes through well before the mint. works in a pinch. Biggest problem being all the loose grains on pouches, like one broke open.
Also throwing in cinnamon Altoids, which are probably actually the cheapest option. But they make me want a toothbrush right away
