Electronic Cigarettes
Everyone has passed by the stands in the mall where they have attractive young men and women smoking and trying to sell the new “safe” cigarette. Electronic or e-cigarettes are the newest nicotine product on the market. How safe are they? They could be safer than regular smoking, but then again they could be even more dangerous. No one knows. It is hard to know where the truth lies when the companies manufacturing them are the ones who fund the studies. Many companies leave a lot to the imagination with their less than a thorough list of ingredients. Companies say they have been created to help people quit smoking. Is that really all they are being used for? I have been hearing stories of how some smokers are using them in addition to their regular habit. They might take a quick “puff” when at the office in between breaks or when they can’t get outside to smoke a tobacco cigarette. Adding them to continued tobacco smoking is increasing a person’s nicotine dependency, thus making it even harder to quit. Even when people are using them to replace regular smoking we don’t know enough about them to conclude that they are safe or even safer than tobacco cigarettes.
Electronic cigarettes are feared to become popular among teenagers and even non-smokers. Companies who market these e-cigarettes are making them more and more appealing to younger consumers. Some are made with bright colors, new designs and even offer chocolate and bubblegum flavors. They are also helping people to disguise them with designs made to look like a pen or flash drive. Teenagers can be deceived by the claim that they are safe and can be intrigued when told they can be used anywhere. Once a teen or any person decides to try one of the e-cigarettes nothing can protect them from becoming addicted to nicotine.
New York is the first state working to ban electronic cigarettes. The FDA has ruled the levels of carcinogens and toxic contaminants are a cause for concern. Without regulation, the e-cigarette could very well end up being way more dangerous than tobacco smoking.