Our government says e-cigarettes and vaping are the latest "epidemic" among teens. So the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says it will restrict them. Cities across the country are banning e-cigarette use in public.
But e-cigarettes help smokers quit traditional cigarettes. Michelle Minton of the Competitive Enterprise Institute tells John Stossel that people have misconceptions about e-cigarettes. "It's about 95 percent less harmful than a normal traditional cigarette," she says.
That's because e-cigarettes let people get a hit of nicotine without actually burning tobacco. The burning of paper and tobacco leaves is what makes cigarettes so dangerous.
Minton admits that the nicotine in e-cigarettes is addictive. But "on the spectrum of drugs that you can become addicted to, nicotine and caffeine are very similar to each other."
The Surgeon General says there are other health risks to vaping: "Besides nicotine, e-cigarettes can contain harmful and potentially harmful ingredients."
Despite the dangers, researchers seem to agree that e-cigarettes are substantially less dangerous than combustible cigarettes.
Other studies concluded that long-term e-cigarette use is "associated with substantially reduced levels of measured carcinogens and toxicants relative to cigarette-only smoking."
Nevertheless, the FDA threatens to crack down to discourage kids from using e-cigarettes.
Minton says that is a bad idea: "Do we want children to become addicted to anything? No....But keeping a small percent of teenagers from trying e-cigarettes is not worth sacrificing adults whose lives could be saved."
The views expressed in this video are solely those of John Stossel; his independent production company, Stossel Productions; and the people he interviews. The claims and opinions set forth in the video and accompanying text are not necessarily those of Reason.
But e-cigarettes help smokers quit traditional cigarettes.
And e-cigarettes help teens to start smoking. In order to make it even easier to start, manufacturers offer flavors like mango, cucumber, fruit and crème.
Hooking teens on nicotine via tobacco, bad. Hooking teens on nicotine via e-cigarettes, good.
Take it a step further. Smoking tobacco, bad. Smoking marijuana, good. What a fucked-up society.
Would you advocate a complete smoking ban nation or statewide? If not, then don't ban a safer form of smoking and let the more dangerous type continue. People should be responsible for their own health decisions and the smart ones, if they vape at all, will do so wisely.
I smoked for years. Wish I had never started. Tried to quit numerous times, no success, number of people tried to get me to quit. Finally, about 5 years ago, I decided I needed to. Not having any problems, just knew I needed to, even though I enjoyed it. Was tuff, and took some time, fut finally made it. I wish my wife, daughter, oldest son would quit, but I do not say anything to them. They need to want to on their own.
Daughters boyfriend vapes. I am amazed how much smoke is made with one draw. Seems like it is twice as much as from a regular cig.
I would think it is not as bad as the burning of tobacco with loads of chemicals, and paper with chemicals. But, I don't know.
