How the FDA Would Like to Approach E-Cigarette Regulation

The FDA has argued that electronic cigarettes are drug delivery devices, just like nicotine gum or nicotine patches. As drug delivery devices, the FDA would have a clear right to regulate the cigarettes exactly the way the FDA already regulates nicotine gum and patches. The FDA claims that without proper regulation, the electronic cigarettes will become popular among young children who do not have access to tobacco products. The FDA would also like to control the ingredients that are delivered through electronic cigarettes more closely.

Recent Legislation

When the FDA began seizing imports of electronic cigarettes, the manufacturers took the federal agency to court. The district judge who heard the case sided firmly with the electronic cigarette manufacturers and ruled that the FDA had no jurisdiction in the sale or transport of electronic cigarettes. Simply put, the judge deemed the products as tobacco products, which are outside the regulation of the FDA. Electronic cigarette manufacturers have been allowed to import and sell their products under the same regulations that normal cigarettes are sold under and without any interference from the FDA.

The Basic Fallacy of the FDA Argument

As the federal judge argued, electronic cigarettes are meant to be enjoyed the same way that normal tobacco cigarettes are enjoyed. The only difference between normal cigarettes and electronic cigarettes is that the electronic version does not contain tar or create harmful smoke. As long as electronic cigarettes are represented as another form of tobacco, the FDA will be unable to regulate their sale or distribution. Electronic cigarettes are subject to the same rules and regulations that normal cigarettes are subject to, but they do not need to submit to testing through the FDA in order to be sold as regular cigarettes to American consumers.

Don’t Be Fooled By Disposable E-Cigs

I tried them out and was largely disappointed by the two units I purchased. The first unit I purchased with the intention of giving to a friend, but by the time I had let a few friends try it out and used it a few times myself, it had already run out. I did not take an actual record of how much it was used, but I doubt most users would care about the exact number of uses they get, which varies anyway based on the length of each use.

The second unit actually melted in my pocket during a movie, which made me uncomfortable. This was annoying because it was too hot to touch until it cooled, but it was also unusable as a seal had totally melted off. I decided not to purchase any more e-cigarettes in the future.

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I Tried and Failed – Can I Really Quit?

It takes a lot of people three tries or more to take the final step and quit smoking. Taking that step is hard for many individuals. It is also a very frustrating time. You will need to learn to deal with everything in your own way.

Do You Need Someone to Lean On?

A support group is awesome to have. Although you have to endure this journey on your own, you will never be alone. A support group doesn’t have to be anyone in your family. You could join a meeting group. Many people take this route when they are trying to kick the habit. The meetings are similar to AA meetings. More people are comfortable in this setting because everyone that attends the meetings share a common goal and deal with some of the same issues.
If you would rather keep to yourself during this time, that’s not a bad thing. Only you know what you need. The key to quitting for good is to pace yourself. Nothing happens overnight. These processes take time. You have to be dedicated and determined.

Expect This To Take Time

Allow yourself time to get used to the idea of not smoking. Even though nicotine isn’t a very hard drug like crack and cocaine, it is still very addictive and harms your body in numerous ways. Get your mind set and focused on quitting and then try it. Trying to quit cold turkey isn’t a good idea.

Pace yourself. Your body will go through many changes during this time and will need time to adapt to them all. By quitting cold turkey, you’re almost guaranteed to relapse and smoke more than you did before you tried to quit.

Take it a day at a time

However many cigarettes you smoke a day, decrease that number slowly. The first few weeks will be the toughest, but with determination, you will make it. The first week, reduce your cigarette intake by a little less than half. For example, if you smoke eight or more cigarettes a day, try taking that number down to six or seven. Remember that you have to take baby steps. It’s up to you to accept and defeat the challenge.

In both America and Canada, e-cigs came under the governmental chopping block because they are not technically covered under any Tobacco or drug acts. On top of this, electronic cigarette’s have not yet been subjected to rigorous shake downs by the FDA or tax committee’s; putting them on the ‘bad side’ of those in control. This has thus caused the federal courts to decide the official fate of nico-vaping in the America and Canada. So far, they have not won their case do to improper use of powers, though they have not stopped attempting to ban e-cigarettes indefinitely.

Until then, many agencies, organizations and attorney general’s are doing everything they can to make life even more hellish for smokers and e-cig sellers. A few states have even managed to pass e-cigarette laws quietly, so that consumers have only a small window to prevent such bans, while other states are just doing what they can to threaten retailers from selling them.

Currently, Canada’s federal health agency has banned the importing of electronic cigarettes and has banned the sale of them until they have applied for clearance and approved by their FDA.

In America, e-cigs are in such a gray area that there isn’t a ton that most states can do. Though a few have managed to sneak in swift and silent laws that ban the sale of e-cigs, while others are just discouraging it. Here is the latest info for the states vs. e-smoking:

OREGON - Still legal for consumers to use them, but they are banned for being sold by retailers in Oregon

MINNESOTA - Has redefined their tobacco laws to include e-cigarettes as tobacco products

NEW HAMPSHIRE - Has banned the sale of e-cigarette’s to minors

ARIZONA - Has banned the sale of e-cigs to minors

CALIFORNIA - Has banned sale to minors, though they are still in Red Alert for attempting to amend the bill to ban electronic cigarette’s completely

MARYLAND - Has passed a law banning indoor usage of e-cigs and is attempting to completely ban them

NEW JERSEY - E-cigs have been added to the smoking ban and are illegal to use indoors in public places, but not illegal to purchase, sell or use otherwise

NEW YORK - Has two bills in the legislature and senate and are attempting to completely ban e-cigs, though at the moment the bills have been unsuccessful. Though the attorney general is doing everything possible to discourage the sales of electronic cigarettes

UTAH - Banned to sell to minors, banned for use in mental facilities and jails.

The rechargeable type have been around longer and are generally less expensive.  Blu rechargeable e-cigarettes come in a convenient pack sized case that contains the recharging unit and spare cartridges.  The also cost much less with a starter kit including 25 cartridges priced at $59.95.  25 cartridges is the rough equivalent of 150 cigarettes or 1.5 cartoons taking the adjust price per “pack” down to $3.99

The disposables are more convenient, aimed at casual smokers and easier to sell in bars and other locations where smoking has been recently banned, she said.

A Krave 500 disposable e-cigarette purchased at a Wichita tobacco shop last week cost $19.95.

It’s good for about 500 puffs, the equivalent of about 2 1/2 packs of regular cigarettes.  Do the math and currently disposable cigarettes cost around $8 / pack.  Pretty much the high end of cigarette costs around the country these days.

The disposable cigarette almost seems destined to target the relapsing smoker.  Hopefully a person determined to quick in a moment of weakness would choose the electronic alternative instead of purchasing a pack of traditional cigarettes.

Kansas House Bill 2221, which passed earlier this year and established the state ban, defines smoking as “possession of a lighted cigarette, cigar, pipe, or burning tobacco in any other form or device.”

E-cigarettes are more comparable to nicotine gum, patches or non-electronic smokeless cigarettes used as stop-smoking aids — which also are immune to the ban, said Gavin Young of the attorney general’s office.

The New York State Assembly has voted overwhelmingly 125-0 to ban e-cigarettes.  The decision followed an email sent by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) to New York’s legislators seeking to correct misinformation they apparently received from marketers and others. ASH previously helped persuade New Jersey and Suffolk County, NY, to ban the use of e-cigarettes in no-smoking sections.

The FDA previously attempted to ban the import of electronic cigarette devices but the decision was overruled.

Kansas recently unveiled a policy of non-smoking but specifically excluded electronic cigarettes from their policy.  A spokesman for the Kansas Attorney General’s Office said that since no burning tobacco is involved, the ersatz cigarettes are not covered by the statewide indoor smoking ban that passed the Legislature in February.

The first step, and probably the most overlooked, is to make sure that the battery/atomizer adapter sites are and remain dry, clean and clear of buildup or fluid. They like any other electrical connection require care in order to continue performing at their highest level.

To clean these connection points take a smooth tissue which won’t tear apart or a lint free cloth and carefully and lightly clean in and around the threads that connect the atomizer to the battery. After making sure there are no tissue particles or random threads clinging to the connection use a new tissue or an unblemished part of the lint free cloth and lightly wipe the area around the atomizer’s vent hole. Make very sure that there is no material or liquid on the connection. With this done the atomizer’s cleaning is complete.

A different and more proactive method of cleaning the atomizer is to place it over a cloth with the battery connection up and then softly blow into the hole where the battery and atomizer couple. As this is being done there will be a soft gurgling sound as the extra liquid is clearing from the heating coil. While blowing pay careful attention so that saliva is not inadvertently forced into the housing of the coil. After every two or three breaths lightly rap the atomizer onto the tissue or cloth and if any fluid remains in the atomizer it will slowly begin to collect on the tissue. Repeat this process until the gurgling sound is no longer heard when someone is breathing into the connector. After completing this process, stand the atomizer up on a clean area of the soft cloth or on a clean tissue and allow any remaining liquid to continue draining down the wall of the atomizer.

Some people are in favor of pushing the corner of the tissue or a piece of the cloth up into the atomizer to soak up any left over liquid, however this could be difficult and problematic because some tissue particles or fuzz could inadvertently be left inside the house of the atomizer. It is probably safer and better to never put anything inside the atomizer.

Instructions on using a nicotine inhaler will vary slightly with each brand. Generally, one should puff in either shallow breaths every two seconds or deep breaths every four seconds for a total of twenty minutes. Users are advised to puff frequently, using from 6 to 16 cartridges per day during the first twelve weeks. The amount of cartridges used will vary with the original smoking habits of each individual. During the subsequent 6 to 12 weeks, a smoker is advised to reduce the number of cartridges.

The most common side effects associated with over the counter nicotine inhalers include mouth and throat irritation. Other less frequent symptoms include dizziness, coughing, runny nose, or upset stomach. The symptoms are generally mild and have been known to fade away with regular use.

Continuing to smoke, chew tobacco, use snuff, or any other nicotine containing products while using a nicotine inhaler is hazardous. Certain medical conditions and medications may interact with nicotine inhalers. It is important to speak with a medical professional before using any form of nicotine deterrents.

Next we will be comparing Nicotine Inhalers to Electric Cigarettes

Cigarettes are filled with Arsenic, Ammonia, Butane, Carbon dioxide and a number of other toxins. Most people would not willingly place such chemicals into their bodies. But decorate hazardous waste in a pretty package, have a pretty person validate it and using it becomes okay.

Chewing tobacco has been found to be a cause of health problems but is not considered as toxic as cigarettes. Chemicals found in chewing tobacco are Cyanide, Formaldehyde and lead. If anyone gave a person these chemicals to ingest they would be charged with a crime but people smoke and chew them all day, every day and expose others to the same chemicals and it is socially acceptable.

An Electronic cigarette is a device that allows a smoker to inhale nicotine without the added carcinogens.  The FDA hasn’t either approved nor banned these devices but it appears these devices allow the inhalation of nicotine without the extra carcingoens.

The more information known about smoking, the more public places are becoming smoke free zones. Second hand smoke has been found to be as damaging as smoking direct. The dangers of smoking, chewing tobacco or smoking an E-cigarette have been shouted from the roof top. Many people are listening but not enough. The dangers of tobacco use are real.

At the moment it would seem smoking cigarettes is the fastest way to create serious damage from tobacco and chewing the product seems to be running not far behind. Dipping tobacco and inhaling E Smokes has a close following. All of these products have chemicals that a lot of people are trying to avoid having in their homes, yet, they place them in their bodies.