by Jaclyn Hamilton, Leland and Gray School Assistance Professional
An e-cigarette is a battery powered device that heats a liquid solution to produce a vapor for inhalation. The solution varies in nicotine levels, and there is even a 0% nicotine option for people who are trying to quit. With new nonsmoking laws in the state of Vermont, e-cigarettes have come under fire because they do not produce any second hand smoke, only water vapor, making them seem safe.
So does that make it O.K. for people to smoke inside restaurants, buses, or buildings? Are e-cigarettes really safer? Manufacturers are marketing e-cigarettes towards teenagers, because they are “cheaper” and “safer” than regular cigarettes. The FDA does not regulate e-cigarettes, however in August 2013, they did announce that they might ban e-cigarettes due to “concern about the safety of these products and how they are marketed to the public.”
Until they are deemed safe by the FDA, the VT Department of health has advised not to use any of the e-cigarette products on the market. Want further information? Visit www.legacyforhealth.org or www.tobaccofreekids.org