Cigarettes have often been known to cause cancer (lung,mouth, throat). More recently electronic cigarettes have become a fad in popular culture. More commercials than ever are in media representing the "safe" alternative to smoking cigarettes. The selling points for the new electronic cigarettes are they do not give off an offensive odor and the vapor does not contain the harmful contaminants and tar that are in cigarettes.
William Bailey, M.D., a pulmonologist makes the argument for the pacifier effect. Electronic cigarettes are not readily available at all times and at social gatherings, people often will smoke and the craving for something in the mouth for electronic cigarette smokers opens them up for the temptation to go back to normal cigarettes in those times. Dr. Bailey says that patches and gums are better because cessation includes the absence of the pacifier effect.
My personal opinon is that it could be used as a stepping stone for working down from cigarettes to gums and patches. It can make the smoker healthier as they work down from smoking. There are different nicotine level cartridges (that are able to have a 0 level) that can be used to wean people off of the electronic cigarettes. Overall, I think that the electronic cigarettes are a viable and helpful in cessation of a bad habit that has many harmful effects. I think straws, toothpicks, or carrots could help break the pacifier effect in those that continue to feel a craving.
Reference: UAB Magazine http://www.uab.edu/uabmagazine/2010september/ecigs
Seth Mayfield
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