Exciting New Possibility for the Electronic Cigarette

By: Jean Rasbridge

Many claims have been made for the Electronic Cigarettes.

Some have claimed that it is a miracle cure for flu, while others have argued that it could help customers quit smoking.

Most of these claims are unproven, although New Zealand research has shown that the electronic cigarette can reduce nicotine cravings and increase the level of nicotine in the blood.

What new research does show is that electronic cigarettes are a potential tobacco harm reduction product.

A survey into hundreds of electronic cigarette users carried out by UK based E Cigarette Direct and analysed by the TobaccoHarmReduction.org project at the University of Alberta found that the majority of users were able to replace cigarettes completely or partially with electronic cigarettes.

American public health groups, many of whom are supported by grants from the public health organisations who market the competing nictine replacement aids and drugs so threatened by e-cigarettes, have claimed that the electronic cigarette is a gateway into smoking.

In contrast to these claims, the study found that all of the users had been smokers prior to taking up the electronic cigarette.

In addition, the study found that the vast majority of users were over the age of 30 - suggesting that the argument that the electronic cigarette is attractive to youths and teenagers is unfounded.

Perhaps most exctingly, the paper stated that use of the electronic cigarette had lead to a general improvement in the smokers' health:

“The majority of the respondents indicated that their general health, smoker’s cough, ability to exercise, sense of smell and sense of taste were better since starting to use e-cigarettes.”

While further research is needed, we believe these are exciting developments!

About the Author

James Dunworth is the IT director of E Cigarette Direct, and the co-author of Electronic Cigarettes: A Potential Tobacco Harm Reduction Project.

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