Columbia University Scientists: Vaping May Be Gateway to Illicit Drug Use

[SeniorBoy]

---> NOTE ECF censors (........) a word which starts with "Co" and ends with "aine" - Hope this explanation is OK with the mods and Google still wont index the C word. mods a free to fix it anyway they wish and I understand.

Conducted on Mice! ....... ADDICTION! You must be joking but your not. Perhaps, anything for another grant. Bolded by me:

"...they found that when mice are exposed to nicotine, it alters their brain biochemically and induces activation of a reward-related gene. As a result, nicotine primes the animals’ subsequent response to .........."

"they found that when mice are exposed to nicotine, it alters their brain biochemically and induces activation of a reward-related gene. As a result, nicotine primes the animals’ subsequent response to ......., providing a molecular basis for nicotine as a gateway drug for ........"

See: E-cigarettes may promote illicit drug use, addiction -- ScienceDaily

The full study at: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1405092

Push back: http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/?mc_cid=c7ea97353a&mc_eid=bd22abf2f5

 

[Kent C]

If that were true, then there would be more c users from smokers. No real need to mention ecigs since it's the nicotine available in many forms. IOW, the same could be said for patches, gum and Nic inhalers as well as cigs, snuff, chewing tobacco, etc.

It's one thing to give mice nicotine, then also give them c. With humans, there are other factors and no one is 'giving' them c - they have to purposely go through the actions to obtain it. There are many factors that go into that decision to obtain - cost, knowledge of the drug, knowledge of the downsides of the drug, etc. etc.

Just because there are some physiological connections made with mice, doesn't mean that same progression will occur in humans. It may be in some, but I've known of many non-tobacco smoking drug users. However, all of them had chewed gum and eaten carrots as well. Correlation isn't causation. These studies are just another tactic of the anti-nicotine crowd that relies on people not thinking these things through, or have no idea of the concept of "junk science". It works so well in other areas, why not with this one??

 

[Nate760]

I'll probably get a little demerit for this, but whatever. When the censoring of certain words needlessly and consistently inhibits people from having legitimate, on-topic discussions about relevant subjects, that policy needs to be reevaluated, altered, or abolished.

 

[Augmented Dog]

I'm no scientist, but the entire premise stretches the limit of credibility as far as I'm concerned. Trying to draw a correlation between vaping and subsequent illicit substance use opens the door to claim that a wide variety of comestibles, including chocolate, coffee, sugar and a number of other foods can all be considered gateway substances to illicit drug use as they all trigger biochemical responses in the "reward" center of the brain.
Reading about this, I don't know whether to laugh, or weep.

 

[Kent C]

I'm no scientist, but the entire premise stretches the limit of credibility as far as I'm concerned. Trying to draw a correlation between vaping and subsequent illicit substance use opens the door to claim that a wide variety of comestibles, including chocolate, coffee, sugar and a number of other foods can all be considered gateway substances to illicit drug use as they all trigger biochemical responses in the "reward" center of the brain.
Reading about this, I don't know whether to laugh, or weep.

"The VTA dopamine system is strongly associated with the reward system of the brain. Dopamine is released in areas such as the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex as a result of rewarding experiences such as food, sex, and neutral stimuli that become associated with them."

So like you say 'chocolate' for example is another 'precursor'

Dopamine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[sonicdsl]

Moved to Media & General News

---

I'll probably get a little demerit for this, but whatever. When the censoring of certain words needlessly and consistently inhibits people from having legitimate, on-topic discussions about relevant subjects, that policy needs to be reevaluated, altered, or abolished.

I understand the frustration. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ation/255864-why-we-dont-allow-drug-talk.html

Any further discussion on this needs to be via PM or via E-Cigarette-Forum

 

[lirruping]

I'll probably get a little demerit for this, but whatever. When the censoring of certain words needlessly and consistently inhibits people from having legitimate, on-topic discussions about relevant subjects, that policy needs to be reevaluated, altered, or abolished.

I'm new here and have felt something like this, too Nate. I know there are considered and well-intentioned reasons for the limitations on what can be discussed here, but I don't always understand what they are, which can be frustrating.

Is there a forum devoted to discussing the censorship within ECF? If not, there ought to be--someplace moderators (and whatever other ECF authorities there are) know to look to get feedback on and in participate in discussions on how the policies that limit free expression here are working.

Come to think of it, I'm sure there MUST be a place devoted to this--it's such an obvious concept. Does someone have a link for me?

 

[lirruping]

Moved to Media & General News

---

I understand the frustration. http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...ation/255864-why-we-dont-allow-drug-talk.html

Any further discussion on this needs to be via PM or via E-Cigarette-Forum

Whoops, I just read more of the thread and saw this. So I guess "PM or via E-Cigarette-Forum" is the place to discuss how and why the censorship is working? Or is there a more dedicated virtual location?

 

[lirruping]

This is a reasonably articulate and well-thought out response to the NEJM article mentioned by OP:

From Vapor to Powder: Are E-Cigarettes a Gateway Drug?

This is not:

E-Cigarettes: A 'Gateway Drug' to Addiction

We can count on Big Tobacco, Big Pharma, and Big Media to take the shallow, sensational view. Everyone has their agenda, everyone wants their slice. Time, which used to be a relatively reputable publication is clearly in it it now only to score the interest of the lowest common denominator. The state of journalism in this country is a fu**ing travesty.

 

[KODIAK (TM)]

---> NOTE ECF censors (........) a word which starts with "Co" and ends with "aine"

So that's what I've been craving. Heh, and here I thought it was just more Budweiser.

What an asinine study. All it proves is mice are stupid.

 

[Nate760]

So that's what I've been craving. Heh, and here I thought it was just more Budweiser.

What an asinine study. All it proves is mice are stupid.

More specifically, it proves that if you're a mouse and your entire existence consists of sitting in a tiny chamber being dosed with nicotine, the days go by quicker if you're high.