The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed a rule that would allow the agency to regulate electronic cigarettes as they do tobacco products.
The agency has had the authority to regulate cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and self-rolled tobacco since 2009, and is has been exploring its guidelines to extend its power to the e-cigarette industry. The FDA has submitted its regulation proposals to the White House Office of Management and Budget for approval.
Sales for e-cigarettes grew from about $500 million in 2012 to an estimated $1.5 billion in 2013, according to Consumer Reports, though a minor powerhouse compared to the $100 billion tobacco industry, it is an industry that has been rising in sales, while tobacco sales have been falling.
As an unregulated and new product on the market, the chemical composition of e-cigarettes varies, so no one can say with certainty what is in them or how much of each chemical, like nicotine, is in one. Thus, the health implication are also unknown, including exposure to second-hand vapors.
However, some health educators are advocating that the devices be classified as aids in reducing or quitting smoking, because they do not contain tar or other burning chemicals. There have been anecdotal stories posted through various online social media outlets about long-time smokers kicking the habit through the use of e-cigarettes. However, their actual success rate is not more impressive than other classified health-aid devices such as patches or gum.
Dr. Cathy McDonald runs a center for Tobacco Dependence, Treatment and Cessation for Alameda County in California. She admitted to HuffingtonPost, “right now we don’t have as much information as we would like.”
What researchers do know, McDonald explained, is “ten minutes of smoking an e-cigarette for a person who has never smoked a cigarette does cause a noticeable increase in airway resistance in the lungs.”
Sixty years ago, we just didn’t know that much either.
S.C. Rhyne is a blogger and novelist in New York City. Follow the author on twitter @ReporterandGirl or on Facebook.com/TheReporterandTheGirl and visit her website at www.SCRhyne.com
Go to Amazon and look up the book Vape Mania.
The only reason the FDA wants to regulate vape is MONEY. Six people in my family tried vape to quit smoking. 5 are fully quit and one is now an occasional smoker.
anetedotal or not… the success of evapes are easily 1000 to 1 over gum or patches even still it isn't a quiting tool….because people are still having a cig or two a day compared to 20 to 25 with gum n' patch.
There are a lot who know exactly what is in their evape as compared to consumers of FDEE.A approved food.
40 year smoker. Three month vaper. No cigarettes in the last two month, only three in that first one…the last one more an experiment than a craving. I'm done. I tried cold-turkey, patches, gum. I had unacceptable side-effects with everything I tried…yet continued to smoke. I'm done. I have no cravings. I barely miss smoke, and when I think about it, I can vape and feel fine. Speaking of feeling fine; I can smell. I can breathe. I don't cough every day. I'm not burning holes in my clothes, or bothering others with my odor. I'm not inadvertently setting things on fire.
Win-win.
If it wasn't for Vapors I would still be smoking those nasty ass cigarettes. I wish the government would back the fuck off my life.
You know as a smoker of 20 years and my mother has smoked around 40 some odd years. I find it sad that now that there is a way to quit smoking and its cutting into the budget of congress whom gets a lot of money from tabaco company's that they are going to screw with it myself and my mother as well as 4 friends and 3 family members have all quit smoking using these products all with in the first month i my self was able to quit smoking the first day with no issue and was off the e-cigs with in a month so i am sorry the temp use of e-cigs has to be safer than continueing to smoke i think they should just stay away and out of it find another way to get the money or take a pay cut this product has probly saved my life or at least made me healthier and i will get to see my daughter grow up well at least a bit longer health wies lol just my thoughts 🙂 congrats to thoes who have quit smoking and i will pray for all of you good luck with the battle and God Bless sry for the bad spelling
I know it doesn't matter what I think but having grown up in a home of smokers who wanted to quit………I give you a good ole pat on the back! My dad quit cold turkey but mom will be 80 this year and she cannot quit for anything! I stopped by your page to see if you are doing well and to say hello. Take care, KK
Just for giggles, I'm checking in at nine months smoke-free to report; no cravings, no coughing, no side-effects on the scale I experienced as a smoker…and a significant financial benefit as well. I'm spending less than a quarter of the money on vaping as I did smoking. Probably even less…..