Published: May 30, 2019
About e-cigarettes
Since being introduced in 2006, e-cigarettes continue to appeal to those wishing to stop smoking or as an alternative to regular cigarettes. Use of e-cigarettes or e-cigs is called “vaping,” which uses cartridges that are filled with a liquid that contains nicotine, flavoring and other chemicals and is then heated into a vapor and inhaled.
The e-cigarette industry has added flavorings such as bubble gum, chocolate and peppermint to the e-liquids, making them very appealing to children. Some are designed to resemble regular cigarettes (cig-a-likes), cigars, pipes, pens or USB memory sticks. Like regular cigarettes, the FDA regulates e-cigarettes and prohibits their sale to persons under 18 years of age.
What’s in an e-cigarette?
Although it’s generally agreed upon by experts that e-cigs are safer than regular cigarettes, based on recent studies reported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), “e-liquids of certain cig-a-like brands contain high levels of nickel and chromium, known carcinogens and toxic chemicals, as well as potentially toxic metal nanoparticles [microscopic particles] from the device itself. Cig-a-likes may also contain low levels of cadmium, a toxic metal also found in cigarette smoke that can cause breathing problems and disease.”
E-cigarettes, children and teens
Because e-cigarettes typically have flavorings, their use by middle school and high school students tripled in one year and they are now the most commonly used form of tobacco among teens in the United States. Besides the risks inherent in any product that contains nicotine, there have been children poisoned from swallowing e-cigarette liquid and instances of this continue to rise each year. According to the NIDA, “another study found that there was significantly greater toxicant exposure in adolescent e-cigarette users compared with their non-using peers. In most cases, these harmful chemicals were present whether the product contained nicotine or flavorings. More research is needed on the health consequences of repeated exposure to these chemicals.”
Can e-cigarettes help you quit smoking?
Sometimes people who are trying to quit smoking will use e-cigarettes as an interim measure until they are ready to quit nicotine completely. However, scientific studies have not shown that e-cigarettes work to help people quit smoking, nor have they been shown to be more effective compared to FDA-approved quitting aids, such as nicotine patches and gum.
What you can do
If you or a member of your family are thinking about using e-cigarettes as a way to stop smoking, consider these suggestions instead:
-
Talk with your family doctor to get support and advice that you can rely on.
-
Be skeptical of advertisements with popular media stars that promote e-cigarettes.
-
Look into smoking cessation programs, such as the one at MyWHA Wellness, a virtual coaching program, and smoking cessation courses through Western Health Advantage’s medical groups.