Electronic Smoking

It seems like everywhere we turn today there’s an “e” version of everything. Usually the line between the real world and the “virtual” world is very clearly drawn. With the ill effects of cigarette smoking clearly understood by the health care world, it’s pretty interesting to hear that the FDA and World Health Organization have not yet patently rejected a new cigarette product.

You may have seen “e-cigarettes” at the Christiana Mall, they popped up at a kiosk outside of Macy’s this past Christmas. I was pretty shocked to see the salesperson taking drags and blowing “smoke” from what looked like a regular cigarette, since indoor smoking is banned in public places in Delaware. It seems like this product skirts the law a bit since in reality there is no “burning” going on in the product, it involves warming of liquid nicotene and produces a “vapor,” not smoke when exhaled. Since there is no tar, or the other harmful chemicals found in traditional cigarettes, some consider this a healthful alternative to smoking. Some compare the product to nicotene gum or patches as a helpful cessation aid.

Is this product that will find wide acceptance? Candy cigarettes for children disappeared from stores years ago and most folks would not look kindly on handing them to children. Is the mere act of mimicking a habit recognized as unhealthy,and in many cases deadly, enough to render this product unacceptable?

As participants in the health care community what is your take on this product? Are the diminished risks enough to deem this a “good” and acceptable product? Are we just creating future smokers? Are we diminishing the social taboos that originally removed smoking from public areas in the first place. Please log in and post your debate!