Article
E-cigarette use among adults and adolescents has increased since 2010.
An acquaintance of mine recently celebrated his success in quitting cigarettes after multiple attempts.
“Good for you!” I said. “That is a very hard habit to break.”
But then he came clean.
He hadn’t really stopped smoking cigarettes but had switched over to electronic cigarettes, or “vaping.” Should those who vape view themselves as tobacco quitters? Are e-cigarettes safe or even safer than tobacco cigarettes?
E-cigarette use among adults and adolescents has increased since 2010. Many believe that e-cigarettes are a tool to quit or greatly reduce tobacco intake. Whatever the reasons, e-cigarette sales represent a $6 billion industry.
The main ingredients of e-cigarette liquids are nicotine, propylene glycol or glycerol, and choices of up to 5000 flavorings. The product can also contain other ingredients.
The issues surrounding e-cigarette use are as follows:
It will be interesting to see the evolution of e-cigarettes and regulation over the next few years.
Reference
Orellana-Barrios MA, Payne D, Mulkey Z, Nugent K. Electronic cigarettes—a narrative review for clinicians. Am J Med. 2015;128:674.