Menstuff® has information on E-Cigarettes.
E-cigarettes, Teenagers and Oral
Health
E-Cigarettes Also Damage Lung
Cells
The Pros and Cons of
E-Cigarettes
'Dripping' may be a new, dangerous trend
for teens who vape
Study: New concerns raised over teen
e-cigarette use
Public health Q&A: Are e-cigarettes
safe?
4 Facts You Need to Know About
E-Cigarettes
3 reasons to say no to e-cigarettes -
Kaiser Permanente
Resources
How to Get Teens to Stop Vaping
Those Few Cigarette Puffs During Adolescence Might Have Altered Your Brain
Teen Vaping Linked to More Health Risks - Yale
E-cigarettes: Facts, Stats and Regulations - CASAA
A Historical Timeline of Electronic Cigarettes - CASAA
What We Know About Electronic Cigarettes
Smoking: Tobacco
What is Vaping?
What Are Electronic Cigarettes? - NIH
New Type of E-Cig as Bad as Regular Cigarette for Your Lungs - Healthline
The Difference between E-cigarettes and Hookahs
Cannabis through Bongs, Joints, Vapes, Brownies… What the Hell Is the Difference?
How Long Does It Take You Guys to Go through One Pod?
Seven People Have Died from Lung Illnesses Linked to Vaping. Should You Quit?
E-cigarettes: Good News, Bad News - Harvard
Explainer: One Possible Culprit in Vaping Lung Illnesses - 'Dank Vapes - Reuters
What Are the Symptoms of Vaping Illness? Doctors Warn about E-cigarettes - USA Today
Vaping Cases Linked to Vitamin E, Bootleg Cartridges? - WebMD
5 Vaping Facts You Need to Know - John Hopkins
E-cigarette Use, Flavorings May Increase Heart Disease Risk, Study Finds - Stanford Medicine
Is Vaping Bad for You? And 12 Other FAQs - Healthline
FDA Delays Enforcement of Stricter Standards for E-cigarette, Cigar Industry - Washington Post
San Francisco Bans Sales of Flavored Tobacco Products - CNN
San Francisco Mayor Signs Ban on E-cigarettes Sales - CNN
What's Behind a Vaping Illness Outbreak in the US? - BBC
Michigan Governor Orders State Ban on Sale of Flavored E-Cigarettes - NPR
Trump Administration Readies Ban on Flavored E-cigarettes amid Outbreak of Vaping-Related Deaths - CNBC
Using E-cigarettes to Stop Smoking - NHS
Trump Administration Combating Epidemic of Youth E-Cigarette Use with Plan to Clear Market of Unauthorized, Non-Tobacco-Flavored E-Cigarette Products - US Food & Drug Administration
Vaping Causes ‘Popcorn Lung’? - Snopes
Trump Administration Combating Epidemic of Youth E-Cigarette Use with Plan to Clear Market of Unauthorized, Non-Tobacco-Flavored E-Cigarette Products - US Food & Drug Administration
What Works to Help Teens Quit Vaping? - WebMD
JUUL Voluntarily Pulled E-cigarette Flavors in the US. Why Didn’t It Do the Same in Canada? - Daily Caller
Teens & Vaping: What to Watch for and How to Talk with Your Kids
Rebel with a Cause: Rebellion in Adolescence - Psychology Today
A Harm Reduction Guide for Parents of Teens Who Vape everydayhealth.com
Can Antidepressants Help You Quit Smoking?
Drugs & Medications: Chantix; Generic Name(s): Varenicline - WebMD
JUULing and Teenagers: Why Vaping Is a Dangerous Trend
What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)? Exploring the Concept and Its Benefit
First-of-its-kind Free E-cigarette Quit Program Now Available to Young Vapers Looking for Help
The Facts on E-cigarette Use among Youth and Young Adults
E-cigarettes and Vape Pens (Tobacco Prevention Toolkit: Modules for Tobacco and Nicotine Education - Stanford Medicine
The Dangers of Vaping: Understanding the Risks and How to Stop - Registered Nurse
E-cigarettes, Teenagers and Oral Health
More teenagers have tried Electronic Cigarettes than adults, with
statistics showing as many as 10% of high school students having
tried the latest trend in smoking compared with only 2.7% of adults.
E-cig use has exploded in the past few years, and many people claim
to have stopped smoking traditional cigarettes because of them. While
many users also believe e-cigarettes to be safer than regular
cigarettes, no definitive studies have proven that they are a safe
alternative.
When looking at e-cigarettes and oral health, especially in relation to teenagers, it’s important to remember that an e-cigarette is still primarily a nicotine delivery device and there’s little debate as to the effects of nicotine on the body.
The truth is, no one is completely sure about the long-term health
effects of e-cigarettes which can make them a particular concern for
adolescents. Many teenagers are smoking e-cigarettes because they
feel they are safe or cool. Regardless of how it’s delivered,
however, nicotine is still a highly addictive drug that should be
avoided by everyone, especially growing teens. With few laws banning
their use among young people, it’s important to educate your
children about the potential hazards of this growing trend.
E-Cigarettes Also Damage Lung Cells
Recently thought to be a safer alternative to cigarettes, a new
study shows that increasingly popular e-cigarettes still cause
negative effects similar to those caused by smoking.
The researchers tested both mice and human cells, exposing them to
cigarette and e-cigarette smoke with and without nicotine. They found
that nicotine in both types of cigarettes caused lung damage.
Interestingly, the nicotine-free e-cigarettes also contained a
substance that damaged lung cells. So, are e-cigarettes really a
better option than cigarettes? While it may not seem that way right
now, more research is needed to confirm.
The Pros and Cons of E-Cigarettes
What made you decide to try the e-cigarette? After reading this article, share your comments and read what others have to say.
You can smoke them virtually anywhere. Many say they will help you quit smoking, a plus for people with COPD who often struggle with smoking cessation. Others are skeptical and afraid to try them. The FDA would like to regulate them as medical products. The e-cigarette industry feels that the FDA has no substantiated reason to do so.
There's a lot of talk going on about e-cigarettes, so before making a decision to use them, learn the facts about their pros and cons.
What are E-Cigarettes?
Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes for short, are battery-powered devices filled with liquid nicotine (a highly addictive chemical) that is dissolved in a solution of water and propylene glycol. Many of them look like real cigarettes, with a white cylindrical tube, brown filter, and red-glowing tip. Others come in less conspicuous, darker colors.
How Do They Work?
Often termed "vaping," when you take a puff on the end of the e-cigarette tube, a battery heats up the nicotine, which creates a vapor that is then inhaled into the lungs. The end result is a sensation of smoke in the mouth and lungs without really smoking.
The Upside to E-Cigarettes
Unlike tobacco products, there are no current laws in effect prohibiting the use of e-cigarettes in public places. Case in point, I work in a hospital and a fellow nurse smokes them right there in the nursing station.
Here's what current research says about the positive aspects of this product:
The Downside of E-Cigarettes
If you are a savvy consumer, both positive and negative aspects of the the product you are considering should be scrutinized before you purchase it. The e-cigarette is no exception. Take a look at what some of the research says about the negative aspects of the e-cigarette:
After five minutes, lung function was assessed using a variety of tests. Results showed that smoking the device for just five minutes caused an increase in impedance, peripheral airway flow resistance, and oxidative stress in the lungs of healthy smokers (smokers who are not diagnosed with lung disease or chronic health conditions.) They also pointed out that the study only measured results from smoking the e-cigarette for five minutes -- because the average consumer is likely to smoke the e-cigarette many times a day, this might increase the risks. However, the authors suggested that it is possible that if the e-cigarette were used as a short-term bridge to smoking cessation, the benefits might outweigh the risks.
The Best Way To Quit Smoking
How you choose to quit smoking is a matter of personal choice. The best method is the one that works for you. With this in mind, doing whatever it takes to be successful -- and safe -- is how many people ultimately approach it.
Consult your health care provider about different stop smoking aids, including nicotine replacement therapy, quit smoking medications such as Clonidine and Wellbutrin, quit smoking support groups, and educational materials.
If you decide to try the e-cigarette, be sure to discuss this with your doctor and do your homework. Understand the pros, cons, and safety concerns, and then make an informed decision. The most important thing to remember is, no matter how you do it, you are making the best decision of your life when you finally decide to quit smoking, especially if you have COPD.
If you're interested in purchasing an e-cigarette starter kit,
compare
prices here. 
Sources:
Etter JF, Bullen C. Electronic cigarette: users profile, utilization, satisfaction and perceived efficacy. Addiction. 2011 Nov;106(11):2017-28. Epub 2011 Jul 27.
Bullen C, McRobbie H, Thornley S, Glover M, Lin R, Laugesen M. Effect of an electronic nicotine delivery device (e cigarette) on desire to smoke and withdrawal, user preferences and nicotine delivery: randomised cross-over trial. Tob Control. 2010 Apr;19(2):98-103.
Caponnetto P, Polosa R, Russo C, Leotta C, Campagna D. J. Successful smoking cessation with electronic cigarettes in smokers with a documented history of recurring relapses: a case series. Med Case Reports. 2011 Dec 20;5(1):585.
Evangelopoulou, Gregory N. Connolly and Panagiotis K. Behrakis Constantine I. Vardavas, Nektarios Anagnostopoulos, Marios Kougias, Vassiliki. Acute pulmonary effects of using an e-cigarette: impact on respiratory flow resistance, impedance and exhaled nitric oxide. Chest; Prepublished online December 22, 2011.
Fagerström KO, Hughes JR, Rasmussen T, Callas PW. Randomized trial investigating effect of a novel nicotine delivery device (Eclipse) and a nicotine oral inhaler on smoking behavior, nicotine and carbon monoxide exposure, and motivation to quit. Tob Control. 2000 Sep;9(3):327-33.
Fagerström KO, Hughes JR, Callas PW. Long-term effects of the Eclipse cigarette substitute and the nicotine inhaler in smokers not interested in quitting. Nicotine Tob Res. 2002;4 Suppl 2:S141-5.
Food and Drug Administration News and Events: Public Health Focus. http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm172906.htm. Accessed 1/24/2011.
Anna Trtchounian and Prue Talbot. Electronic nicotine delivery systems: is there a need for regulation? Tob Control published online December 7, 2010.
'Dripping' may be a new, dangerous trend
for teens who vape
"Dripping," which differs from normal e-cigarette use that slowly releases the liquid from a wick onto a hot atomizer, may expose users to higher levels of nicotine and to harmful non-nicotine toxins, such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde — known carcinogens.
Sixty-four percent of the surveyed teens said they dripped for the thicker smoke, 39% for the better flavor and 28% for the stronger throat hit or sensation, according to the study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics.
"When people smoke cigarettes, they say they smoke it for, for lack of a better word, a tingling in the back of the throat," said Suchitra Krishnan-Sarin, the study's lead author and a Yale professor of psychiatry who studies substance abuse behaviors.
Electronic cigarettes are battery-operated devices that heat liquid and turn it into vapor — instead of smoke — which a person inhales. One of the primary concerns about e-cigarette use in teens is increased exposure to nicotine, Krishnan-Sarin said. E-cigarette liquids can contain varying levels of nicotine, and dripping could expose teens to higher levels of the drug, the study states.
While not all e-cigarette products contain nicotine, increased nicotine levels can lead to stronger throat hits, too. The study notes that dripping for these stronger sensations may indicate dripped e-cigarette users are also using nicotine, though researchers did not specifically ask whether they were dripping e-liquid containing nicotine.
"The teen brain has been shown especially sensitive to nicotine," Krishnan-Sarin said.
Yet as e-cigs have increased in popularity, so have alternative uses for electronic smoking devices, such as smoke tricks and competitions. Krishnan-Sarin said a variety of vapor patterns can be produced with thicker clouds, such as "tornadoes and rings."
The study asked 1,874 high school students in Connecticut whether they had ever used an e-cigarette and found that of the 1,080 teens who had, 282 or 26% had also tried dripping.
Study: New concerns raised over teen e-cigarette use
Additionally, dripping was most prevalent among white males and respondents who had tried more tobacco products or used an e-cigarette more in the past month.
The researchers asked only whether the students had tried dripping, though, not whether the dripping was habitual, an area of study Krishnan-Sarin noted needed more research. She also said that it is not known how dripping compares to conventional cigarettes in terms of toxicity.
Ray Story, CEO of Tobacco Vapor Electronic Cigarette Association, said the segment of e-cig users who drip is just a sliver of users, and he discouraged people from turning to dripping as a vaping method.
"At the end of the day, I don’t think they serve any kind of purpose. It's for monster clouds, and these individuals are manufacturing their own hardware," Story said. "Many of them really don’t have the background or ability to really put these things together. It’s a lot of the 'do-it-yourself' type guys that are into this."
Public health Q&A: Are e-cigarettes safe?
In recent years, electronic smoking products have become increasingly popular among teenagers, some of whom may use an e-cigarette but would not otherwise try a tobacco product. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced in May 2016 that it would begin regulating all tobacco products made after February 2007, when the e-cigarettes industry began to grow. Nearly all e-cigarettes would need a separate application for approval, and their sale to minors banned.
Story called e-cigarettes an adult product but said he would rather see a teenager use an e-cigarette than a traditional cigarette. He said the industry does need rules and regulations, but he believes vaping can help combat conventional tobacco use with a less harmful alternative.
Krishnan-Sarin, however, said more research is needed on the long-
and short-term effects of e-cigarettes.
Source: www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2017/02/06/dripping-may-new-dangerous-trend-teens-who-vape/97547428/
Public health Q&A: Are e-cigarettes
safe?
Answer: In 2010, Wisconsin implemented the Smoke-free Air law and almost five years later 86 percent of Wisconsinites enjoy and expect smoke-free air. E-cigarettes have recently exploded on the market and this new popular trend has created confusion regarding the statewide Smoke-free Air law. This new trend is invading the clean air we have come to expect.
An electronic cigarette is an oral device that can be used to simulate smoking and that produces an aerosol of nicotine or other substances. The term e-cigarette is use to reference and array of products including, e-hookahs, hookah pens, vape pens, vaporizers, e-cigars, and e-pipes.
You may be asking yourself, "But are they healthy?" As many as 10 different toxic or carcinogenic chemicals have been identified in e-cigarettes including, highly addictive nicotine. Studies have also found some e-cigarettes contain high levels of formaldehyde and diacetyl — chemicals harmful to the human body. Currently, e-cigarettes aren't regulated and haven't been proven to be safe.
E-cigarettes are being marketed as a healthy alternative to smoking, an effective cessation strategy and a way around existing smoke-free air laws. But smokers who use e-cigarettes for cessation often continue to smoke regular cigarettes. In addition, allowing e-cigarettes to be used indoors where cigarettes are not allowed undermines the smoke-free air law. The use of e-cigarettes indoors threatens Wisconsin's standard of clean air and makes enforcement confusing.
Overall, more research is needed to show the long-term health consequences of e-cigarettes. Every month more information is coming out about what is actually in e-cigarettes and e-juice. It's more than just water vapor.
The Central Wisconsin Tobacco Free Coalition strives to reduce tobacco/nicotine related death and disability through education and advocacy, creating a community environment that encourages tobacco free living.
Destinee Coenen is a public health educator with the Marathon
County Health Department who is part of the Central Wisconsin Tobacco
Free Coalition. Have a question about public health? Email it to
opinion@wdhmedia.com.
Source: www.usatoday.com/story/life/2015/04/14/public-health-qa-cigarettes-safe/25766131/
Study: New concerns raised over teen
e-cigarette use
The report, released Monday by the American Academy of Pediatrics, is based on a study that found overall smoking prevalence among youth in Southern California declined, but the combined e-cigarette or cigarette use was substantially greater than before e-cigarettes became available.
The conclusion raises the question of whether e-cigarettes are merely substituting for cigarettes or being used by teens who wouldn’t otherwise be smoking.
In 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported e-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product among middle and high school students, with an estimated 2 million users in that age group.
Cigarette smoking declined among American teens in recent years, but the use of other tobacco products — like e-cigarettes and hookahs — increased, the report says.
More teens now try vaping than smoking
The potential safety of e-cigarettes, devices that heat a liquid consisting of nicotine, flavorings and other chemicals to create a vapor, is hotly debated. Unlike traditional cigarettes, e-cigarettes do not contain tar or other chemicals generated by the combustion of tobacco that are responsible for harmful tobacco-related diseases. They are, therefore, seen as a safer alternative to conventional tobacco use, the leading cause of preventable death in the U.S.
Health care experts worry e-cigarettes could normalize cigarette use and create a new generation of smokers and nicotine addicts that will be likely to transition to more traditional tobacco products.
But Brian Carter, the director of scientific communications at The Consumer Advocates for Smoke-free Alternatives Association, a group dedicated to ensuring the availability of smoking alternatives, asks why someone who prefers not to smoke but tries e-cigarettes would make the transition to a “really nasty alternative.”
Aruni Bhatnagar, lead author of the American Heart Association’s policy statement on e-cigarettes, said even if teens don’t switch to other tobacco products, nicotine itself isn’t benign. It increases heart rate and blood pressure and can, over time, contribute to cardiovascular and heart disease, he said.
“We are not entirely convinced that (e-cigarettes) are innocuous and contain minimal harm,” said Bhatnagar, who also teaches medicine at the University of Louisville. “We don’t know what the harm is, it’s not clear cut yet.”
Tobacco use and addiction mostly begin during youth and young adulthood. Nicotine exposure during adolescent years, a critical time for brain development, can have lasting adverse consequences, according to the CDC report.
Harold Farber, policy chair at the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Tobacco Control and pediatric pulmonologist at Texas Children’s Hospital, said the adolescent brain is highly malleable, so addiction to nicotine is much more severe and difficult to kick in those who start using at a young age.
E-cigarettes, which are sold in a variety of different flavors, are like a highly addictive candy directly marketed to youth, Farber said.
Gregory Conley, president of the American Vaping Association, an advocacy group that champions vapor products for smokers looking to quit, argued most teens who do use e-cigarettes aren’t necessarily using vapes that contain nicotine.
A 2015 National Institute on Drug Abuse report says over 60% of middle and high school students reported vaporizing “just flavoring.” However, some products labeled nicotine-free may actually contain nicotine, it added.
The Food and Drug Administration issued new rules in May that for the first time extended federal regulation to e-cigarettes, with the intent to keep tobacco products out of the hands of minors.
The new rules ban the sale of e-cigarettes to anyone under 18 and require manufacturers to register with the FDA, disclose detailed reports of their products’ ingredients and obtain permission to sell their products.
FDA went way too far on e-cigarettes
While these regulations are a move in the right direction, Bhatnagar says they could have gone even farther by increasing the age to 21, banning the different e-cigarette flavors and regulating advertisements on TV and in magazines.
Bhatnagar says smoking was de-normalized when it was banned from public spaces and discouraged from display in TV and movies, which he credits for the major gains in decreased tobacco use and addiction. But vaping, which people do publicly in a variety of different environments, reverses these gains, he said.
Carter, who has a background in clinical psychology, argues it is highly premature to conclude that “something bad is going on” with youth e-cigarette use.
“At best, this is a study that offers some small potential clue about what may be happening,” he said. “To suggest anything more concrete than this is to be very unscientific by touting speculation as fact.”
Farber says e-cigarettes are a huge experiment to be conducting on our future generations.
“With e-cigarettes we’re seeing a step back in our
battle,” he said. “But I’m hoping we realize the
errors of our ways and decide it’s worth protecting our
children.”
Source: www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/07/11/study-new-concerns-raised-over-teen-e-cigarette-use/86866056/
4 Facts You Need to Know About
E-Cigarettes
We do know that traditional cigarette smoke contains upwards of 7000 toxins, including 250 poisonous and 70 cancer-causing chemical compounds. No level of secondhand cigarette smoke is considered safe to breathe.
E-cigarette emissions on the other hand contain far fewer toxins, in part because the vapor is not a byproduct of burning organic matter, but of heating the nicotine-containing liquid, which causes it to vaporize.
While e-cigarettes are less hazardous than traditional cigarettes, they're not harmless. Let's take a closer look at the issues you should be concerned with if you're thinking about using e-cigarettes as a smoking alternative or a quit aid.
1. Electronic Cigarettes are Not Regulated
In the United States, tobacco products that are regulated must adhere to strict rules imposed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
These include:
Currently, regulated tobacco products include cigarettes, cigarette tobacco, smokeless tobacco, and roll-your-own tobacco.
The FDA plans to extend their umbrella of control over more tobacco products soon. They are: e-cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, nicotine gels, hookah tobacco and dissolvables.
These products would be subject to the rules noted above and would also have to include health warnings, not be sold in vending machines at locations that are accessible to children, and adhere to minimum age and I.D. restrictions for sales.
How Lack of Regulation Hurts Consumers
The current lack of regulation on e-cigarettes means that you can't trust that the product you're buying contains the amount of nicotine it claims to, or that it is produced with any quality control. Pharmaceutical grade nicotine is used in all U.S. NRT products, but consumers can't count on that with unregulated tobacco products.
Similarly, information on packaging regarding nicotine-free cartridges cannot be trusted. They may, and often do contain nicotine. This is especially bad if you're using e-cigarettes as a quit aid and trying to decrease nicotine gradually to zero.
Finally, the quality of electronic cigarette devices themselves vary widely, which can affect vapor composition and toxicity.
2. E-Cigarettes Contain Some Surprising Toxins
In a study reviewing available information about e-cigarette liquid, cartridges, vapor and exhaled emissions, authors noted the presence of a number of toxins in varying amounts, including formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein, o-Methyl benzaldehyde, acetone, volatile organic compounds, phenolic compounds, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
While the amounts of these chemicals are much less in e-cigarettes than in traditional cigarettes, there is a risk of exposure to some of the same chemicals that are hazardous in cigarette smoke.
TSNAs in e-Cigarettes
E-Cigarette liquid and vapor has been shown to contain TSNAs, a group of four chemical compounds that are thought to be some of the most potent carcinogens in tobacco products and tobacco smoke. TSNAs are present in green tobacco and processed tobacco, including liquid nicotine.
TSNAs are associated with lung cancer, oral and esophageal cancer, liver cancer and pancreatic cancer. There is growing evidence that TSNAs may contribute to cervical cancer.
Heavy Metals in e-Cigarettes
Researchers studying e-cigarette emissions have identified chromium, a metal not present in cigarette smoke, as well as a number of other heavy metals that are, including zinc and lead. The concentrations are much lower than in traditional cigarette smoke, but are not zero. Nickel is present in levels 4 times higher than in regular cigarette smoke.
It appears that the metals probably come from the cartridges and that standardizing the quality of their construction may reduce these toxins.
3. E-Juice is Poisonous
The "active" ingredient in e-cigarettes and the reason people use them is nicotine, and nicotine is a poison. It has been used in insecticides for years and is the addictive ingredient in both cigarettes and e-cigarettes.
According to a CDC study that reviewed calls to poison centers across the United States involving e-cigarette liquid containing nicotine, the incidence of accidental poisoning has skyrocketed in the last few years as e-cigarettes have gained in popularity.
There was just one call per month pertaining to liquid nicotine in September of 2010 and 215 calls per month by February of 2014. Approximately half of the calls involved children under the age of 5 being exposed to e-cigarette liquid, and 42 percent from people over the age of 20.
E-liquid comes in several sweet, candy flavors, which is appealing to kids. Poisoning occurs when nicotine-laced e-liquid is inhaled, ingested or absorbed through the skin or eyes.
In December, 2014, what may be the first death of a child due to liquid nicotine occurred in upstate New York state when a one year old who ingested liquid nicotine died soon after. Local police didn't confirm that the liquid nicotine was associated with e-cigarettes, however it is likely.
And, earlier in 2014, a puppy in Britain got hold of an e-liquid cartridge and was dead within hours of chewing through it and ingesting a small amount of the liquid.
4. E-Cigarettes are a Smoking Alternative, Not a Quit Aid
It's probable that e-cigarettes will be a regulated product in the future. When that occurs, it's also likely that a physician designed and endorsed regimen for smoking cessation using electronic cigarettes will eventually become available.
When and if that happens, consumers will be able to count on a consistent level of manufacturing quality and nicotine quality and content. They will also have a program for stepping down and off of nicotine completely, which is the purpose of any quit aid.
People are already using the e-cigarette as a means to quit nicotine altogether, and some are achieving success with it. On the flip side, many e-cigarette users either transfer their addiction from tobacco to the device, or eventually go back to smoking traditional cigarettes full-time because they're still actively addicted to nicotine.
If you're thinking of using the e-cigarette to quit smoking, do
some research first on the quit aids available on the market today,
and have a discussion about them with your doctor, who can offer
advice on the best choice for you.
Sources:
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA proposes to extend its tobacco authority to additional tobacco products, including e-cigarettes. http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm394667.htm . Accessed March 2015.
British Medical Journal. Chemical Evaluation of Cigarettes. http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/23/suppl_2/ii11.full . Accessed March 2015.
University of Southern California. Secondhand
E-Cigarette Smoke: Healthier Than Regular Cigarette Smoke, But Still
Contains Some Toxic Elements.
http://pressroom.usc.edu/second-hand-e-cigarette-smoke-healthier-than-regular-cigarette-smoke-but-still-contains-some-toxic-elements/
. Accessed March 2015.
quitsmoking.about.com/od/smokingalternatives/fl/4-Facts-You-Should-Know-About-E-Cigarettes.htm?utm_source=cn_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Health%20Channel%20Newsletter&utm_campaign=healthsl&utm_content=20150528http://quitsmoking.about.com/od/smokingalternatives/fl/4-Facts-You-Should-Know-About-E-Cigarettes.htm?utm_source=cn_nl&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Health%20Channel%20Newsletter&utm_campaign=healthsl&utm_content=20150528
3 reasons to say no to e-cigarettes - Kaiser
Permanente
1. Safety concerns
After analyzing e-cigarette samples, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found that some products contain cancer-causing agents and toxic chemicals such as diethylene glycol, an ingredient used in antifreeze.
2. No convincing evidence they will help you quit
In fact, there is evidence suggesting the opposite: A 2014 study by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, revealed that smokers who use e-cigarettes are a third less likely to quit than those who don’t use them.
3. What’s proven to work still works
Evidence shows the most effective way to quit is to use a
combination of FDA-approved medications (like the nicotine patch,
gum, lozenge, or bupropion) and counseling support. Choose what works
for you: Kaiser Permanente’s Wellness Coaching by Phone, tap
into the power of a group in a Health Education stop smoking class,
or try the online, self-paced program called HealthMedia®
Breathe.(TM) Learn more at kp.org/quitsmoking.
Source: partnersinhealth.kaiserpermanente.org/june-2023/national/3-reasons-to-say-no-to-e-cigarettes-nat-june2015
The Dangers of Vaping:
Understanding the Risks and How to Stop
In recent years, a rise in cases involving seemingly healthy
young people suddenly having trouble breathing has baffled doctors.
With no signs of infection or any other underlying issue, doctors
suspected the only other hobby the patients had in common —
vaping.
Throughout the United States, 805 cases of vaping-related respiratory illnesses have been reported in 46 states. These cases are linked to people who modified their vaping devices or use illegally modified e-liquid. Similarly, vaping products that contain THC, the component found in marijuana that produces mind-altering effects, is a common denominator as well.
Due to these potential effects, vaping is a major health concern that may need intervention from a healthcare professional. It’s of growing importance for family nurse practitioners to build more communicative relationships with youth patients as well as parents, in order to better identify and intervene where vaping is an issue.
Early recognition and intervention by medical professionals are essential to slow the spread of chronic ailments, like respiratory illnesses that can be caused by vaping. Such nursing professionals also serve patients throughout their life cycle, which is beneficial to providing family-focused care and being able to communicate openly with both patients and parents to address these social determinants of health. For children younger than 18, pediatric nurses can help identify and prevent illnesses while providing routine care.
Before seeking the help of a health professional, it’s important to understand problems associated with vaping, recognizing the signs of vaping, and taking action to address the issue.
What Is Vaping?
Vaping is the act of inhaling aerosol, which is often referred to as “vapor,” and is produced by e-cigarettes. Contrary to popular belief, e-cigarettes do not produce tobacco smoke or water vapor — rather, the aerosol contains tiny, fine particles that consist of various toxic chemicals.
Besides e-cigarettes, vaping devices include vape pens and advanced personal vapors, also known as MODS. E-cigarettes and vape pens are typically small in design and resemble regular cigarettes or fountain pens, respectively. Generally, a vaping device is made up of a mouthpiece, a battery, a cartridge, and a heating component.
The cartridge, containing the e-liquid or e-juice, is heated up which turns the liquid contents into an aerosol. When someone inhales this aerosol, it makes its way into the lungs where it can cause severe damage, including irritation to both the upper and lower respiratory tract, as well as bronchospasms. Vaping can also cause more serious effects, including:
How Vaping Started
Vaping originally hit the market as an alternative to smoking. Now it is a billion-dollar industry.
1930: This was the first reference to an e-cigarette in a patent.
1960s: Herbert A. Gilbert created the first vaping device that resembles modern e-cigarettes.
1979-80s: Phil Ray first commercialized the e-cigarette. However, the device was faulty and failed to sell.
1990s: Numerous patents were filed, however, the FDA denied requests to commercialize them due to the fact that they were considered an unapproved drug delivery device.
2003: The first successfully commercialized vaping device was created in Beijing, China.
2006: E-cigarettes were introduced to Europe.
2006-07: E-cigarettes are introduced to the United States.
2007: N’Joy, one of the first major e-cigarette brands was founded.
2008: The World Health Organization (WHO) claims that e-cigarettes are not a legitimate smoking cessation.
2009: President Obama signs the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, giving the FDA power to regulate the tobacco industry.
2010: The FDA can only regulate e-cigarettes as a tobacco product unless therapeutic claims are made.
2011: Studies are published stating that smokers are finding success in smoking cessation with e-cigarettes.
2012: The vaping industry starts holding conventions throughout the U.S.
2013: The Testimonials Project is born to collect stories from smokers who have found success in smoking cessation with e-cigarettes.
2015: JUUL starts advertising in Vice Magazine, the “#1 youth media company.” E-cigarettes are starting to sell online, making it convenient for people to obtain them.
2016: E-cigarette companies aggressively market to youth and young adults. Truth Initiative found that more than 20 million youth saw at least one e-cigarette advertisement.
2018: The number of vapers grows to 41 million. Users in the United States, the United Kingdom, and France spend $10 billion on vaping products.
2019: The vaping industry costs 12.4 billion and is expected to grow by 20.8% from 2020 to 2027.
Vaping companies continually target young audiences in terms of marketing, including:
Although the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act banned cigarette flavors other than menthol, it does not regulate other tobacco products. E-cigarette companies capitalized on this regulation gap in order to market to a younger audience.
Types of Vape Devices
Vape devices come in all shapes and sizes, and it’s important to know how to spot them.
Electronic Cigarettes:
Vape Pens:
Mechanical Modified Nicotine Delivery Systems (MODS):
Pod Systems:
Understanding the Dangers of Vaping
Since the outbreak of cases related to e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI), patients have experienced many symptoms, including:
More seriously, e-cigarettes are associated with respiratory disease among adults. Chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and asthma are among the most common. Since vaping devices can contain nicotine and other chemicals, vaping can also lead to changes in our appearances. These changes include:
Vaping can also be dangerous to nonusers, since vaping devices release high amounts of toxicants in addition to particulate matter.
Is Vaping Addictive?
Nicotine can be found in most vaping devices, which makes vaping a potentially addictive hobby. The more a body gets used to nicotine, the harder it becomes to go without it. As nicotine levels drop, the body feels withdrawal symptoms which makes a person want to ingest nicotine to curb those feelings. This is the definition of nicotine addiction.
Other withdrawal symptoms include:
Nicotine withdrawal is different for everyone, which can make quitting hard or unreachable. Healthcare professionals from accredited nursing schools across the nation are trained to understand smoking cessation best practices, in large part due to the health risks associated with vaping. In fact, tobacco cessation training programs are fairly common for healthcare professionals.
Many programs prepare healthcare professionals to talk to patients about quitting and to track their progress. Nurses and doctors are in key positions to influence and control tobacco cessation programs because of their roles as educators and researches. They can also help manage withdrawal symptoms in order to help their patients to quit smoking or vaping.
Is Vaping Illegal for Minors?
Federal regulations restrict the sale of vaping devices and products to people who are under the age of 21. However, many state laws regarding minors and vaping vary. For instance, some states do not define e-cigarettes as tobacco products, such as Florida, Ohio, and Washington. Additionally, Maryland allows 18-year old military members to purchase vaping devices and materials.
If a minor is in possession of a vaping device, there are legal ramifications for both the user and the seller, although they do vary by state. Some examples include:
How to Address Vaping
Vaping can cause lingering respiratory issues, which is why it’s important to recognize the signs of vaping and take the appropriate steps to address the situation.
Signs of Vape Device Use
It may be hard for parents to see signs of vaping in their children. With the epidemic of youth vaping, it’s more than likely that a child has been exposed. However, there are some common signs to watch for:
How to Stop Someone From Vaping
Addressing a vaping situation requires a straightforward and open discussion. It’s important to react in a calm manner and listen to what your child has to say. Other actions you can take include:
Start talking to them about vaping at a young age. Prevention is one of the best ways to stop your children from vaping. By warning children about the dangers of vaping before they start, there is a better chance they won’t start at all.
Create an open environment. Your child could be more willing to talk with you if you create an honest relationship. Instead of catching them in the act of vaping, it is more productive to have an open dialogue about it.
Stay calm. Children can easily shut down if they are met with opposition and anger. Though this might lead them to stop vaping, it can also lead to resentment. Instead, talk to your children about whether you can help them quit and the options they have.
Get outside help. If your child has a nicotine addiction, it is best to get them the help they need from one of the resources in the last section of this guide.
Learn Smoking Cessation Best Practices
Healthcare professionals and guardians can help curb vape use by participating in smoking cessation training programs. These programs include counseling, behavior therapy, and smoking cessation tools like:
Additionally, nurses play a major role in helping their patients quit smoking. By obtaining their nursing certification, these healthcare professionals will be trained in the latest tobacco cessation methods. All of these tools, including nurses, can help an individual address their nicotine addiction.
Online Resources to Stop Vaping
In addition to seeking assistance from community-focused healthcare professionals, such as public health nurses, there are many resources and tools available online.
Parent/Teen Resources
CDC Youth Engagement User Guide: This guide employs strategies that appeal to youth and gives program managers information on how to engage young people as a part of a comprehensive tobacco control program.
Consequences of Smoking Consumer Guide: This guide shows the effects of smoking and nicotine addiction, as well as the benefits of quitting and resources to help.
The Ex Program: This is an online cessation program that is designed for employers and health plans. It provides an active social network with thousands of smokers and ex-smokers, and includes digital, personalized coaching.
Ex Community: This site is made up of a community of people who want to quit smoking. People can post blogs about their journey, take a daily pledge, get support from an online community, and find motivation through other’s stories.
Project Prevent: This is a statewide youth tobacco prevention coalition in Arkansas. They host monthly online meetings between different chapters and provide opportunities for youth participation, such as an annual conference.
Quit Vaping: This site provides tools on how to quit vaping, including how to get through the first day without vaping, and strategies to combat vaping addiction and nicotine withdrawal.
Youth Engagement Alliance: The Youth Engagement Alliance is a site that provides toolkits, resources, webinars, opportunities for engagement, and a list of national organizations.
Resources for Healthcare Professionals
QuitNowTXT Message Library: This text messaging service allows healthcare professionals to send text messages to serve as smoking cessation interventions for people ready to quit smoking.
Treat Tobacco: this site is designed to provide support for the treatment of tobacco addiction.
Cancer Control P.L.A.N.E.T: This portal provides web-based resources that can assist in assessing the cancer burden in a given state and identifying potential partner organizations.
Quick Reference Guide: This Quick Reference Guide for Clinicians presents summary points from the Clinical Practice Guideline and provides appropriate treatments for every patient.
Helping
Smokers Quit: A Guide for Clinicians: This guide outlines a
strategy to help patients quit smoking.
Source: www.topregisterednurse.com/dangers-of-vaping-understanding-the-risks-and-how-to-stop/
Tobacco (read e-cigarettes too) surely was designed to poison and
destroy mankind - Philip Freneau
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