Description: I was at a hockey game the other day and watched the usual video announcement asking fans to refrain from foul language, fighting, drunken behavior or smoking including the use of e-cigarettes. I have occasionally wondered about the equating of cigarettes and e-cigarettes in sporting venues or elsewhere in public places. After all, the output from e-cigarettes is closer to a small fog bank than to a vile cloud of cancer causing second-hand smoke. Now I do not like my view of events occluded by even small fog banks, so I am not complaining about the e-cigarette ban but I have wondered if cigarettes and e-cigarettes should be in the same category of banned public activities. Well, as a developmental psychologist I should have known better, or I should have looked at the relevant research literature earlier. What do you think? With your thoughts in order on this subject have a look at the article linked below for one piece of research relevant to this question.
Source: Vaping doubles risk of smoking cigarettes for teens, Science News, ScienceDaily.
Date: September 18, 2017
Links: Article Link — https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/09/170918090735.htm
There is certainly a lot more we need to know about e-cigarettes but the finding in this Canadian study that e-cigarette use more than doubled the likelihood of “real” cigarette use is concerning. Obviously smoking behavior can be learned without cigarettes (at least initially). Lots to think about.
Questions for Discussion:
- What is the relationship between e-cigarette use and “real” cigarette use?
- Are there any advantages you can think of to e-cigarettes (to allowing their general use)?
- How do you think (if at all) we should regulate e-cigarettes and what other research would you like to see, if any, before making up your mind on this policy issue?
References (Read Further):
Azagba, S., Baskerville, N. B., & Foley, K. (2017). Susceptibility to cigarette smoking among middle and high school e-cigarette users in Canada. Preventive Medicine, 103, 14-19. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Neill_Baskerville2/publication/318577296_Susceptibility_to_cigarette_smoking_among_middle_and_high_school_e-cigarette_users_in_Canada/links/59930ac00f7e9b989537b329/Susceptibility-to-cigarette-smoking-among-middle-and-high-school-e-cigarette-users-in-Canada.pdf
Schripp, T., Markewitz, D., Uhde, E., & Salthammer, T. (2013). Does e‐cigarette consumption cause passive vaping?. Indoor air, 23(1), 25-31. http://vapit.it/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/Schripp_et_al-2013-Indoor_Air.pdf
Goniewicz, M. L., Lingas, E. O., & Hajek, P. (2013). Patterns of electronic cigarette use and user beliefs about their safety and benefits: an internet survey. Drug and alcohol review, 32(2), 133-140. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3530631/?_ga=1.213219284.1570179940.1430933042
Bunnell, R. E., Agaku, I. T., Arrazola, R. A., Apelberg, B. J., Caraballo, R. S., Corey, C. G., … & King, B. A. (2015). Intentions to smoke cigarettes among never-smoking US middle and high school electronic cigarette users: National Youth Tobacco Survey, 2011–2013. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 17(2), 228-235. https://academic.oup.com/ntr/article-abstract/17/2/228/2857952
Bullen, C., McRobbie, H., Thornley, S., Glover, M., Lin, R., & Laugesen, M. (2010). Effect of an electronic nicotine delivery device (e cigarette) on desire to smoke and withdrawal, user preferences and nicotine delivery: randomised cross-over trial. Tobacco control, 19(2), 98-103. http://lib.xust.edu.cn/ESI-fronts-ec.doc
