Every time a new thread gets started about the involvement of the FDA with e-cigs, I wonder if that would be such a bad thing? Initially, yes - it's gonna suck. Their first act will be a ban of the import and sale all known e-cigs and nicotine liquids. Who can blame them?
What we do as a practice today is indefensible from a health standpoint. It's a sad commentary on our addiction that we will gladly cling to unregulated, poisonous liquid to satisfy our cravings. Every day I read these forums for news of the ban, tips on better devices, the occasional LOL, and to see if anyone died yet.
Morbid? Maybe. But there is no guaranty that what is "supposed" to be in that little bottle you're holding is what's actually in there. It could contain any number of industrial contaminants along with our beloved nicotine. How do you know the nicotine concentration is correct and listed accurately? Some will argue that the free market will convince the manufacturers to put out quality product. Has that been our experience with the devices? Quality control has been pretty sparse with the hardware IMHO, why do we assume the part we're actually ingesting is any more tightly controlled? The free market only works when there are consequences for unethical behavior. When somebody finally dies from this [be it overdose, contaminants, or long-term effects], who will you sue? What will your family's recourse be? Will they quietly accept that you chose gamble with your health? That you made a choice to enjoy nicotine in what you thought was a responsible way, and due to irresponsibility of a third party now you're dead?
Obviously, we accept a level of risk. We have to. There is no long term study of e-smoking as it hasn’t been around long enough. All I'm asking is this: Would some level of government oversight to ensure what's in the bottle is what we expect be so bad? Would you purchase prescription drugs from a foreign country? Possibly you would, if the price was right. If they showed up in a Ziploc bag with a handwritten label calling it "Perk-O-Set, Xmg", would you take them? Maybe as a last resort… but is it smart?
I thank the suppliers here who do batch testing, and I'm peripherally aware of the movements to get some proper testing done. We've also seen some real efforts to improve safety through packaging [ingredient listings, childproof caps, etc], which also helps a great deal. In the end though, it's the fox guarding the henhouse and there needs to be an independent body regulating this stuff if it is ever going to survive once exposed to the light of day. I don’t know if that should be the FDA… but somebody needs to do it.
You can argure harm reduction all day long. It seems intuitive enough, knowing what we do about analogs. No harm reduction claim can be proven until we have some consistent and regulated products however. Until we plug that leak in the arguement, it's all just talk.
The ban will come, I just hope that those that produce/distribute these things take the appropriate actions to come to an agreement with government similar to alcohol purveyors. Regulate and tax, don’t make everything enjoyable illegal.
Cigarettes are BAD, but I believe I have the right to purchase and use them, if I'm informed of the risks. We all trade safety for pleasure, but we should just be aware of what we're trading. I have no intention of quitting e-smoking, but every day I wonder if I'll read that it wasn't so safe after all...
Sorry for rambling...
What we do as a practice today is indefensible from a health standpoint. It's a sad commentary on our addiction that we will gladly cling to unregulated, poisonous liquid to satisfy our cravings. Every day I read these forums for news of the ban, tips on better devices, the occasional LOL, and to see if anyone died yet.
Morbid? Maybe. But there is no guaranty that what is "supposed" to be in that little bottle you're holding is what's actually in there. It could contain any number of industrial contaminants along with our beloved nicotine. How do you know the nicotine concentration is correct and listed accurately? Some will argue that the free market will convince the manufacturers to put out quality product. Has that been our experience with the devices? Quality control has been pretty sparse with the hardware IMHO, why do we assume the part we're actually ingesting is any more tightly controlled? The free market only works when there are consequences for unethical behavior. When somebody finally dies from this [be it overdose, contaminants, or long-term effects], who will you sue? What will your family's recourse be? Will they quietly accept that you chose gamble with your health? That you made a choice to enjoy nicotine in what you thought was a responsible way, and due to irresponsibility of a third party now you're dead?
Obviously, we accept a level of risk. We have to. There is no long term study of e-smoking as it hasn’t been around long enough. All I'm asking is this: Would some level of government oversight to ensure what's in the bottle is what we expect be so bad? Would you purchase prescription drugs from a foreign country? Possibly you would, if the price was right. If they showed up in a Ziploc bag with a handwritten label calling it "Perk-O-Set, Xmg", would you take them? Maybe as a last resort… but is it smart?
I thank the suppliers here who do batch testing, and I'm peripherally aware of the movements to get some proper testing done. We've also seen some real efforts to improve safety through packaging [ingredient listings, childproof caps, etc], which also helps a great deal. In the end though, it's the fox guarding the henhouse and there needs to be an independent body regulating this stuff if it is ever going to survive once exposed to the light of day. I don’t know if that should be the FDA… but somebody needs to do it.
You can argure harm reduction all day long. It seems intuitive enough, knowing what we do about analogs. No harm reduction claim can be proven until we have some consistent and regulated products however. Until we plug that leak in the arguement, it's all just talk.
The ban will come, I just hope that those that produce/distribute these things take the appropriate actions to come to an agreement with government similar to alcohol purveyors. Regulate and tax, don’t make everything enjoyable illegal.
Cigarettes are BAD, but I believe I have the right to purchase and use them, if I'm informed of the risks. We all trade safety for pleasure, but we should just be aware of what we're trading. I have no intention of quitting e-smoking, but every day I wonder if I'll read that it wasn't so safe after all...
Sorry for rambling...
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