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e-cigarettes
e-cigarettes are unregulated battery-powered devices that provide inhaled doses of vaporized nicotine solution. The nicotine comes in a cartridge that is heated using rechargeable battery power. The nicotine cartridges may also contain chemicals such as propylene glycol and diethelyne-glycol (also found in anti-freeze). According to the manufacturer, the flavour is similar to inhaled tobacco smoke, yet there is no combustion. e-cigarettes are the size of a ballpoint pen and resemble a typical cigarette.
What’s the Big Deal?
e-Cigarettes are Not a Quit Smoking Aid
e-cigarettes provide the user with a hit of nicotine, similar to cigarettes.3 Unlike the nicotine patch/gum/inhaler which provide a stable dose of just nicotine that you gradually reduce, the e-cigarette can help to maintain cravings and make it harder to quit smoking.
e-Cigarettes are Not a Safe alternative to Tobacco Smoking
Health Canada has banned the sale of e-cigarettes because they may pose health risks that have not been fully evaluated1 . For more info, read here. Although e-cigarettes do not contain tar or other chemicals associated with combustion, the nicotine cartridges may still contain questionable amounts of carcinogens.2 What’s even worse is that because these products are unregulated, they are sometimes improperly labeled.4 Product labeling may not match up to actual nicotine concentrations. So you never really know what you are inhaling!
What 2 do?
e-cigarettes may seem cool or a good way to quit, but they are just another tool by the industry to keep you hooked! They may be as dangerous as cigarette smoking and should not be used as a quit smoking aid.
If you are thinking about quitting smoking, try one of the proven quit smoking aids instead. Visit the your way section to find one that will work for you!
Visit a health professional at your campus clinic if you want to speak to someone about smoking or quitting.
For additional information and comments, please contact:
Heather Travis
Assistant Manager, Research & Evaluation
htravis@brocku.ca
References:
1 Health Canada Advises Canadians Not to Use Electronic Cigarettes. (2009, March 27). Retrieved on February 1, 2011 from www.hc-sc.gc.
2 Westenberger, B. J. (2009). Evaluation of e-cigarettes. Rockville, MD: US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis.
3 Trtchounian, A., Williams, M., & Talbot, P. (2010). Conventional and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have different smoking characteristics. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 12(9), 905-912.
4 Westenberger, B. J. (2009). Evaluation of e-cigarettes. Rockville, MD: US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Division of Pharmaceutical Analysis.