Good Article on Harm reduction National post

[BlondieLocs]

Even alcohol is good for your heart: alcohol in moderation can help prevent heart disease but thousands are at risk of alcohol death say doctors . Everything is good in moderation, but addictive stuff gets commonly abused. Regarding nicotine the carriers are harmful. So overall effect is negative. Not that people care.

I guess this depends on what your definition of "addiction" is. There currently is no universally accepted definition of the word.

In medicine, the terms "substance abuse" and "dependence" are used. I don't believe either of those are correct in applying to my current personal use of nicotine. (Note the definition of Dependence: "Substance use history which includes the following: (1) substance abuse (see above); (2) continuation of use despite related problems; (3) increase in tolerance (more of the drug is needed to achieve the same effect); and (4) withdrawal symptoms.")

I would equate my use of nicotine as similar to other pharmacological drugs. Some people need anti-depressants to get through the day. I use nicotine. I see no problem with that.

Which carriers are you speaking of?

 

[kanadiankat]

An article from 2000 (I'm sure I could find a more current one, but I'm too lazy atm) referencing the studies done using the nicotine patch on Parkinson's and Tourette's patients: BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Specials | Washington 2000 | Nicotine therapy helps Parkinson's

Interesting to note that they also did the study on CHILDREN.

Thanks BlondieLocs for that article! My heart goes out to the children in those tests. The medication they've had to use sounds particularly brutal for a child's life. Good to see that nicotine is helping.... and WOW - had no idea how much has been done with nicotine studies since that conversation with my friend a few years back. ...nice!

This from the article - raised both brows....

"He said an additional advantage of this approach for companies is that it would produce drugs that could be patented. He said all the major pharmaceutical companies were doing research in this area, including AstraZeneca, Merck, and Aventis. He believed phase II trials were underway in some areas."

... is this, perhaps, why there is such a fight against eliquids? Are we interfering with someone's attempt to patent nicotine as a medicine?

 

[BlondieLocs]

... is this, perhaps, why there is such a fight against eliquids? Are we interfering with someone's attempt to patent nicotine as a medicine?

My interpretation was that they are trying to come up with a nicotine DERIVATIVE that would be more effective at targeting certain diseases, while at the same time delivering less side effects.

Being that it is another NEW drug then, it would be patentable.

 

[viktor]

I guess this depends on what your definition of "addiction" is. There currently is no universally accepted definition of the word.

In medicine, the terms "substance abuse" and "dependence" are used. I don't believe either of those are correct in applying to my current personal use of nicotine. (Note the definition of Dependence: "Substance use history which includes the following: (1) substance abuse (see above); (2) continuation of use despite related problems; (3) increase in tolerance (more of the drug is needed to achieve the same effect); and (4) withdrawal symptoms.")

I would equate my use of nicotine as similar to other pharmacological drugs. Some people need anti-depressants to get through the day. I use nicotine. I see no problem with that.

I meant a common meaning of addiction. When you feel bad if you don't have something and you can't do anything about it. Any addiction is bad me think.

Which carriers are you speaking of?

The stuff you inhale to get your nic fix. Smoke, PG etc. (not trying to start a discussion about ecig safety, just answering your question).

Keep vaping.

viktor

 

[BlondieLocs]

I meant a common meaning of addiction. When you feel bad if you don't have something and you can't do anything about it. Any addiction is bad me think...

The stuff you inhale to get your nic fix. Smoke, PG etc. (not trying to start a discussion about ecig safety, just answering your question)...

I'll respectfully disagree, based on this definition (and because I like to split hairs ). There's a definite difference between Substance Abuse/Dependence and addiction. I could use your same definition with water...

I love water. I drink lots of it. I feel like crap when I don't. I'm addicted to water. I am not, however, falling into the category of an Abuser or Dependent when it comes to water - consuming it at the risk of my health.

I think the real problem is that people tend to equating nicotine with smoking. Yes, smoking can kill you. Because of this, people who continue to smoke knowing that they are at risk are considered "Dependent". (Or "addicted" if you want to use the commonly misinterpreted definition of the word.)

Studies have been done that say nicotine, on its own and in proper doses, is not harmful and in some cases beneficial. Studies have also been done on Propylene Glycol as an inhalant, and it is considered safe.

So is the overall effect in vaping then negative, as you put it? I'm not sure how.

 

[Switched]

"Smokers" are evil people! To some it is the mere act of smoking/vaping that is repulsive.

 

[viktor]

Switched, addicts aren't evil or repulsive, they are sick A nic addict speaking, as you know.

BlondieLocs, our need for water isn't an addiction but a requirement for life as we know it. No human can feel good without water but plenty do great without nicotine. Not us though. I like to always be in control but with nicotine I'm not. That's why I think this addiction is bad. It's only my opinion of course, YMMV.

Edit: overall effect in vaping is seemingly positive for smokers. That's why we keep vaping.

viktor

 

[BlondieLocs]

Switched, addicts aren't evil or repulsive, they are sick A nic addict speaking, as you know.

BlondieLocs, our need for water isn't an addiction but a requirement for life as we know it. No human can feel good without water but plenty do great without nicotine. Not us though. I like to always be in control but with nicotine I'm not. That's why I think this addiction is bad. It's only my opinion of course, YMMV.

Edit: overall effect in vaping is seemingly positive for smokers. That's why we keep vaping.

viktor

I understand that water is a requirement for life. My point was simply that the "standard definition" for addiction is sorely lacking... which is why the medical community prefers the terms Substance Abuse and Dependence. Addiction on its own (by that definition) is not necessarily a bad thing. It's when it turns into Substance Abuse and Dependence that it becomes a problem - using the "substance" in spite of further harm to one's emotional or physical well-being. Vaping appears to eliminate the risks associated with smoking, therefore it now falls out of the realm of Dependence.

I liken the use of nicotine to other drugs that are used to control/stabilize emotional or physical welfare. Consider antidepressants or insulin (for a type II diabetic). Neither drug are absolutely necessary, but both contribute greatly to the user's well-being.

Nicotine has a similar effect on the body as does caffeine. Some people do great without caffeine; some people are convinced they can't live without it. You rarely hear anyone talk about caffeine as an addiction (unless in jest).