E-Cigarettes Under Fire--WebMD Article

[harmony gardens]

It seems like everything that gains approval comes with a list of side effects warnings that sound almost as bad as the problem they are used to treat.

Do eCigarettes need to be 100% safe in order to not be banned??

[nitewriter]

His staff page at Georgia State University is Institute of Public Health - Michael P. Eriksen, Professor and Director and contains his email address.

He is quoted in the article a) as being skeptical that people would actually stop smoking tobacco as a result of using an e-cig as they are marketed to evade smoking bans and b) worried that people would dangerously increase their nicotine intake either with the e-cig alone or with e-cig plus regular cigarettes but c) stated anyone who actually did switch entirely from smoking tobacco to using an e-cig would be a good thing.

Based on his reply to me I believe he would be interested in hearing from others in brief, polite, friendly and informative emails addressing those points.

1) What gets a person to put down the cash to try an e-ig
2) If a person actually quits smoking tobacco, or significantly reduces real smoking--and why, and what the quitting/reduction experience is like (perhaps compared to other quitting methods)--or not as the case may be
3) How a person subjectively believes it has affected their nicotine consumption
4) More objective verification of #3 (ie a visit to your GP, or monitoring your own blood pressure at home)

Would it do any good to direct him to the survey? There are over 4000 testimonials compiled there.

[Kate]

Which survey do you mean Nite?

[StratOvation]

I assume he mean't the petition...In which case I'd agree would be an excellent idea

[marcb70]

Hey guys I am working on an e-mail directed towards Dr. Light (the guy at the end of the article saying they are a ploy to get kids smoking) I am admittedly not the best writer so I would like some input before I send it. its in quotes

Dear Dr. Light,

I am contacting you regarding your statements in the article "e-cigarettes under fire" ("It will be easy for kids to get the product," Light tells WebMD. "It could be a way to get kids into the nicotine habit to get them to smoke. It is a ploy.") I understand your concern about kids getting a hold of these. As hard as we try we cannot prevent kids from doing what they want to do. I started smoking when I was 12 years old, I am 25 now and maintained a pack a day habit for the majority of that time. I got cigarettes very easily, I got marijana easily, and I got alcohol pretty easily. Even with all the safety mesures we can think of if a person wants something they will find a way to get it reguardless of the steps taken to prevent it, just look at the "war on drugs".

To say that these are a ploy to get kids smoking is iresponisble. These for the most part are sold on-line which requires pay-pal or a credit card to order, both of which require you to be 18. The upfront cost is $50-150, just like I remember how easy it was to get cigarettes as a kid, I remember how hard it was to get $50 let alone $150. Who is in charge of this ploy to get kids to use these then convert to cigarettes? Big tabbaco? I dont think so they stand to lose the most if these things take off and they aren't the ones making them.

Like I said earlier I have smoked since I was 12, I got my e-cig kit 3 weeks ago this saterday, since then I have had 2 cigarettes one when I first got it during the time I charged the batteries, the 2nd was the next day just to see if I would like it more(I didn't). I haven't had a single cigarette since. How are these a bad thing? I think lots of testing needs to be done but they shouldn't be taken off the market while this is happening.

Please do me, and the thousands of other converts to e-cigarettes a favor and look deeply at the issue and resist the kneejerk responses.

Sincerly,
Marcus Bell

[nitewriter]

Which survey do you mean Nite?

I meant the petition. ...sorry, ...blonde moment.

[marcb70]

Which survey do you mean Nite?

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/for...er-survey.html

I think is what he is referring to

[Kate]

Ah, I see, thanks Strat and Nite.

It would be great if a medic would do some blood testing to see how much nicotine we really are absorbing. It's a bit of a controversial subject but nothing conclusive can be said because it's so subjective.

EDIT
Unfortunately that survey was sabotaged and the results are now unreliable Marc.

[nitewriter]

http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/for...er-survey.html

I think is what he is referring to

...That's the one!

If he needs personal experiences it seems he could surely find them there. (Along with our letters.)

...Oh, and I'm a "she".

[strayling]

Hey guys I am working on an e-mail directed towards Dr. Light (the guy at the end of the article saying they are a ploy to get kids smoking) I am admittedly not the best writer so I would like some input before I send it. its in quotes

I see what you're getting at, but I'd avoid calling him irresponsible. Start with your positive story of quitting analogs, make the point about availability while testing is carried out, then finish with a note that age verification is the accepted way to deal with things which shouldn't be in the hands of children. In my opinion, conflating e-cigs with currently illegal drugs is likely to make him switch off his brain, so I'd avoid doing that.

So, a little reordering and restraint and I think you have a winner