An Electronic Healthier Cigarette?
Electronic cigarettes are growing in popularity, and about 1 in 5 American smokers has tried them, according to a new study. The battery-operated devices are filled with liquid nicotine, flavors and other chemicals, and produce vapor but not the tobacco and tar of regular cigarettes. They have been marketed as a way to quit smoking, but many have taken to this new fad and stuck with it. It seems that once again someone has invented a way to make cigarette smoking more tolerable for society instead of just quitting. Are there pitfalls to an electronic healthier cigarette?
About 2.5 million people use e-cigarettes in the United States, according to an estimate by the Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association. However, there have been few studies about the safety of e-cigarettes. They seem to be ‘better than cigarettes,’ but there have been disputes on whether or not e-cigarettes are a drug-delivery system (as the Food and Drug Administration says).
The FDA says:
- It is still unknown whether or not e-cigarettes are safe for use.
- It is unknown if there are any other potentially harmful chemicals that are inhaled when someone uses e-cigarettes.
- It is unknown if there are any benefits with using these products.
Recovering addicts have varying opinions on these fake cigarettes. Most people who attend recovery support groups have also completed and quit smoking in a residential drug treatment center. Eliminating addictive behavior patterns is an ongoing goal and the recovery rooms are supposed to be a safe place to offer relief and comfort. If we allow smoking inside buildings, then are we creating triggers for someone else?
While this e-cigarette may help someone quit smoking, do you think that same rules should apply to e-cigarette smokers in public places? Have you tried to quit using e-cigarettes or some other quit-smoking method? Share your comments with us below or on our Facebook page. We want to hear your thoughts about this debate.
