Electronic Cigarettes

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E-cigarettes appeared to explode in popularity seemingly overnight. Electronic cigarettes, also known as E-cigarettes are small, battery-operated systems that deliver nicotine into the body via inhalation. E-cigarettes work by vaporizing a liquid solution within the mechanism that contains nicotine. According to some recent studies, “vaping”, as inhaling E-cigarette vapors has been called, is considerably less harmful to the body than inhaling the 60 or so carcinogen substances associated with the burning of traditional tobacco-based cigarettes (Palazzolo, 2013). Although E-cigarettes often are shaped and designed to look and feel like traditional cigarettes, they are designed fundamentally different from traditional cigarettes…show more content…
Although the number of varieties of the product ranges in the hundreds, they usually can be narrowed down into one of three main categories. The first, known as cigalikes, are modeled after traditional cigarettes in size, shape and style. Another type, called eGos have removable tanks that can be refilled with nicotine. The final type is known as mods, which are larger in size than the other types and offer a number of customizable options for users (Goldman, 2014). Because there is no smoke and nicotine inhalation is controlled, E-cigarettes have been deemed a much safer alternative to traditional tobacco-laden cigarettes. Recent clinical trials show that E-cigarettes have also been proven effective in helping smokers quit (Saitta,…show more content…
The reason for clarifying this purpose is especially important because how the product is marketed to the public greatly affects how it is to be regulated by the FDA. When E-cigarettes were first gaining popularity they were originally marketed as smoking cessation devices intended to help people stop smoking, similar in function to the nicotine patch or nicotine gum. However, under federal regulation, any product that markets itself in this way, as serving a therapeutic purpose and design must conduct a series of clinical trials and have verifiable research and data to support their claims, proving not only that their product is safe, but effective (“Food and Drug Administration,” 2014). This process can end up costing E-cigarette companies millions of dollars in time and money to meet these strict government demands. The FDA attempted to regulate E-cigarettes as unapproved cessation products until 2010, where a ruling by the D.C. Circuit Court determined that as long as the E-cigarettes were not marketed for a therapeutic use, they could only be regulated as a tobacco product like traditional cigarettes (Goldman, 2014). The FDA did not fight the ruling, but instead looked for new ways in which to regulate E-cigarettes by making use of, and possibly revising, existing

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