Electronic Cigarette is The Alternative To Cut Down on Tobacco

E-Cigarettes.  Photo courtesy of Flickr.com, user Izuaniz Collections

We are constantly taught that cigarettes are very harmful to our bodies and overall health. It increases the risks for many health problems. Tobacco is highly addictive, and we see occasionally smokers often become daily smokers. However, there is now an alternative device used for smoking. It is the electronic cigarette. E-cigs are battery powered devices that uses different mix of nicotine and other ingredients to create vapor. When someone uses the e-cig, they inhale and exhale creating white cloud puffs. Unlike traditional cigarettes, it does not contain tobacco, which is very harmful and can cause cancer or other health problems. Heavy smokers should use the e-cig as a way to steer away from smoking tobacco, therefore lowering the risks of smoking-related disease. However, it is necessary that this device should be regulated. Such regulations include the amount of nicotine being used to smoke, the appropriate age to own this device, and re-design of the devices until it is proven that this will not cause any health problems in the future. With these regulations being proposed, the use of e-cig can become useful and beneficial to those who want to quit smoking.

Electronic cigarettes were originally made to help smokers take a break from smoking cigarettes/tobacco and intended to cut down their addiction from tobacco. With so many smokers who want to quit or have made an attempt to quit, majority of them usually fall back to smoking cigarettes within a few days. The simple reason is because smoking tobacco is addictive. We see this new device becoming popular and very common on a daily basis. Especially in the hands of many smokers who are slowly learning to quit smoking tobacco. During my research, I found the top five benefits of why smokers pick electronic cigarettes over traditional cigarettes. The top five benefits are: 1) Smokers turn to electronic cigarette is because it is a lot cheaper than smoking traditional cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes are reusable considering the fact that tobacco smokers are usually smoking a pack a day and spending more than $1,000 a year. Where as compared to buying an electronic cigarette device and purchasing nicotine liquid would amount to about $600 a year. It is obvious that a smoker will spend less if they convert to using the e-cig as an alternative to smoke. 2) e-cigs don’t have the nasty, smelly odor. The smell often sticks to clothes, hair, and furniture. 3) Electronic cigarettes are safer than traditional cigarettes, considering that cigarettes are the #1 cause of fire-related death. With electronic cigarettes, it is not necessary to use open flame. 4) Although it has not been proven that electronic cigarettes are healthier, it is clear that traditional cigarettes is very harmful. The key word is tobacco electronic cigarettes do NOT contain tobacco. 5) You can smoke electronic cigarettes just about anywhere; where as traditional cigarettes are restricted from certain areas. Current research says in a study of 40 tobacco dependent smokers, researchers concluded that smoking electronic cigarettes alleviate the desire to smoke.

There is very little to no regulation to using the e-cig device, that is one of the downside to this device. The FDA is currently working on creating regulations for electronic cigarettes because some people are overly smoking nicotine with this device. There is no proven results that this device is harmful for us to use. It would take up many years until researchers find out. A controversy about the quality of the device and how the products are inconsistent. Some of the e-cig are poorly made, overheat, rust, and etc. In this article, one smoker said, "it blew up in his mouth while inhaling, burning my stitches and gum, lip, and fingers." Other complaints were that it created respiratory problems for some of the smokers. I see e-cig as a potential way to quit smoking cigarettes because I know from my own experience, it is not easy to do so. Because electronic cigarettes offer so many flavors of the liquid nicotine, people can be drawn by the flavor and actually cut down on tobacco use. However, I do think the amount of nicotine needs to be cut down as well. Nicotine may not as bad as tobacco, however someone who can get addicted to it is more likely to purchase more nicotine liquid that could become addictive, then cause other potential health problems in the future.

                                         Real Cig vs. E-cig: Video from Youtube.com, by omgimtaylor

As far as regulating e-cigs, they should require a prescription.  If e-cigs become a medication/prescription, the liquid nicotine should be replaced by a different chemical that’s not too addictive or harmful to the body but also offer in different flavors. The fact that the device will need a prescription, it will be harder for kids/teens to a get a hold of. Current trends have shown that teens that did not smoke previously but have started smoking e-cig are becoming more likely to use tobacco eventually. The main purpose of e-cig is to alleviate current smokers from smoking tobacco, not to encourage more people to smoke tobacco. Teens are finding this device very appealing and that is why the use of this device should be restricted. Since e-cigs are being sold everywhere, even online, anyone of any age can get a hold of it. It's being too available to non-smoking minors. Action should be taken, and even schools should educate students what the e-cigs are and make it known what this device is potentially intended to do. Based on my research on e-cigs, I support the use of this device for helping heavy smokers quit. Along with regulations to be made, e-cigs could be a good idea for usage and treatment.

Cold Turkey: The Best Way to Quit Smoking for Good.  Photo courtesy of Takethewheel.net