By: Alycia Sprague

•  Battery operated device •  Known as a safer alternative to cigarettes •  Provides flavored nicotine aerosol that looks just like

and feels like tobacco •  The heater also vaporizes propylene glycol (PEG)

which is the stuff of which theatrical smoke is made) •  Each cartridge good for several uses •  Price: $100-$200

WHAT IS AN E-CIGARETTE?

•  It is still unclear how safe e-cigarettes are •  They still have nicotine which is HIGHLY addictive •  The vapor may carry carcinogens and toxic chemicals

HOW SAFE?

•  Cheaper than buying packs of cigarettes •  May smoke it anywhere •  E-cigarettes reduce the harm of the habit of

smoking •  May help some people become smokers to non-

smokers •  No pollution in the air •  Vapor instead of smoke

PROS

•  No proof that e-cigarettes do not cause long-term harm

•  Helps people just continue their bad habit in a more social way

•  May worsen users •  Might get new users hooked •  Increased nicotine exposure •  No scientific evidence about e-cigarettes •  May attract under aged users •  Attractive to kids by its appearance

CONS

•  E-cigarettes may be good and bad; however, until further studies are conducted there is no way to determine the health risks of e-cigarettes

•  Cannot tell whether e-cigarettes are in fact safer than conventional cigarettes

•  E-cigarettes might not help someone quit smoking, therefore the smoker should try other effective ways

GOOD OR BAD?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAPoMjHMFHI

YOUTUBE CLIP: GOOD AND THE BAD

•  Until e-cigarettes are proven “safe” the FDA is refusing to let them into our country

•  May soon ban the sale of e-cigarettes •  These products are not currently approved

FDA

"They are nicotine delivery devices intended to be used like a cigarette. What happens to someone who stops inhaling the tars of cigarettes and inhales only nicotine? We don't know. There is at

least the potential for harm." –Norman Edelman, MD, chief medical officer

"We are concerned about the potential for addiction and abuse of

these products. We don't want the public to perceive them as a safer alternative to cigarettes." –Rita Chapelle, FDA

spokeswoman

QUOTES

•  Acupuncture •  Counseling and Medication •  Nicotine Gum, Patch, Lozenge, Inhaler, Nasal Spray •  Laser Therapy •  Hypnosis •  Where is e-cigarette on this list?

MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS TO QUIT SMOKING

QUESTION TO ASK YOURSELF

Are e-cigarettes good or harmful? Is this an

effective way to quite smoking?

•  Denoon, Daniel. "E-Cigarettes Under Fire." WebMD. WebMD, 13 Apr. 2009. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. <http://www.webmd.com/smoking- cessation/features/ecigarettes-under-fire>.

•  "Electronic Cigarettes. The good, the bad, and the ... intriguing." YouTube. YouTube, 13 Jan. 2014. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. <http:// www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAPoMjHMFHI>.

•  "Emerging Trends." National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). N.p., 1 Jan. 2014. Web. 21 Apr. 2014. <http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/ emerging-trends>.

•  "Explore Quit Methods." Smokefree.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2014.

<http://smokefree.gov/explore-quit-methods>.

REFERENCES