y of Southern California in Los Angeles, after analyzing data from more than 2,000 adolescents who took part in the Southern California Children’s Health Study. One of the biggest factors for e-cigarette use by teenagers is the approval of their peers, with more than 90 percent of the survey respondents confirming that their friends approve of their use of electronic cigarette devices.
The study revealed that social acceptance of e-cigarettes have inclined more teenagers to use the product. According to the analysis of the survey data, “Reactions categorized as ‘very friendly’ were associated with 37 times the odds of current e-cigarette use, compared with nine times the odds of current traditional cigarette use,” as cited in a news article. “These results raise the possibility that the generally more favorable social perceptions of e-cigarettes could contribute to the ‘renormalization’ of tobacco products generally,” the authors of the study said.
One surprising discovery was that the use of traditional cigarettes was not an overwhelming factor that leads to e-cigarette use by adolescents. Results revealed that 41 percent of teenagers who used e-cigarettes at least once in their lifetime have not tried using tobacco cigarettes.
Results and other details of the research were published in the journal Pediatrics.
[ Image from TBEC Review ]
The California Department of Public Health recently released two ads that target electronic cigarettes as the industry’s new addictive and highly toxic commodity. Two videos posted on the TobaccoFreeCA YouTube page highlights big tobacco as the primary driving force behind the rise in fame of e-cigarettes. Both ads claim that “there’s a lot the e-cig industry isn’t telling us about vaping.”
The first video ad entitled “Kids Aren’t Alright” shows how kids are being lured towards the seemingly innocent and ultra-trendy reputation of the electronic cigarette. Set to the tune of “Lollipop”, the ad reveals the exploitation of big tobacco companies on kids who don’t know any better.
Meanwhile, the second ad called “What Could Go Wrong” sends a strong message that e-cigarettes are backed up by the big tobacco industry.
The hazards of e-cigarette use have not been completely identified, but the Department of Public Health says that the chemicals inhaled through vaping can cause lung cancer as well.
In a news report, it is said that the number of calls to poison control centers due to liquid nicotine poisoning found in e-cigarettes has gone up in recent years.
In previous years, recorded calls due to liquid nicotine poisoning were just one call per month. In contrast, in February of this year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reported calls have gone up to 215.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has proposed to regulate electronic cigarettes which includes packaging, putting a childproof cap and warning labels. According to Dr. Tim McAfee, CDC’s office on Smoking and Health director, the general public doesn’t know that liquid nicotine is toxic and may post a risk not only to adults but to children aged 5 and even younger who out of curiosity attempt to puff the e-cigarette. Nicotine is toxic to the brain and may trigger seizure, vomiting and accelerated heart rate.
Although there isn’t yet a single death case reported related to liquid nicotine poisoning, this is not far from happening as e-cigarettes contain high concentration of nicotine enough to kill a child, says McAfee.
In another news release, Dr. Tom Frieden, CDC director said, that e-cigarette is highly attractive to children because of its packaging. The e-cigarettes come in candy and fruit flavors sure enough to entice any kid, oftentimes mistaking it for its purpose.
It has been said that e-cigarette is an effective tool that can aid a cigarette addict to cut down or stop smoking. To the right hands it can be useful but if it gets in the hands of minors, there lies a big problem.
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