A new trend that has seemed to replace smoking tobacco products has been rapidly growing on more and more people. Many smokers have turned to electronic cigarettes in order to quit, but are they really helping?
In a study done by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, high school students that have tried E-cigarettes more than doubled from 2011 to 2012. Since E-cigarettes are still very new, doctors and scientists know little information about them.
What most people don’t realize is E-cigarettes still contain nicotine, which is what keeps people addicted to normal cigarettes. The difference between the two is that nicotine is delivered through vaporized liquid in E-cigarettes, rather than smoke from tobacco. Because of this, many argue companies should not be allowed to advertise them as aids to quitting.
According to a study done by the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Pediatrics, students in middle and high school were actually more likely to start smoking tobacco products when using E-cigarettes. When people are exposed to even minimal amounts of nicotine, they can still develop dependence and withdrawal.
Unfortunately, E-cigarette companies have done a very good job advertising. They get celebrities to appear in their ad and sponsor many music and sporting events young people tend to go to. Some even make e-cigarettes in different flavors, such as vanilla or peach.
According to ABC15’s interview with Dr. Stanton Glantz, a leading researcher in E-cigarettes, the vaporizers don’t only contain nicotine. There is also a mixture of proplynegycal and other chemicals. If this doesn’t sound repulsive enough, Glantz says they also contain large amounts of tin, as well as lead, copper and nickel. It’s common sense that inhaling chemicals and metals into one’s lungs can be extremely dangerous to their health.
Right now, the Food and Drug Administration only regulates E-cigarettes for therapeutic purposes as devices or drugs. However, they are planning to extend regulations after more research has been done on health risks the electronic cigarettes pose.
Sure, there have been cases of people successfully quitting smoking after using E-cigarettes. But most studies show they might do more harm than good. People should think about trying safer products to quit, such as nicotine patches or gum. It’s scary that there is not enough knowledge about this new product, yet it’s already become so popular. People thinking about quitting should remember that it’s better to be safe than sorry.