World Vaping Day
Channel: Linc Williams
Date: 2012-02-12

Celebrate the first World Vaping Day with CASAA on Thursday, March 22nd, 2012!

Since their introduction in 2003, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have taken the world by storm. Millions of former smokers have either switched from smoking completely or greatly reduced their cigarette consumption due to this innovative device. CASAA is joining other organizations around the world to promote this event!

Electronic cigarettes are a completely different approach to addressing the concerns about the cost and health effects of smoking. Until now, the focus on quitting smoking has been on ending nicotine dependence, yet billions spent on nicotine cessation products has resulted in very low quit rates. Nicotine gums, lozenges and patches that require eventual abstinence; and pills that attempt to make smoking unpleasant for the smoker completely ignore the social and behavioral aspects many smokers enjoy and do not wish to give up. It is a myth that most smokers "want to quit." In truth, most smokers simply realize that they probably should quit. Therefore, not only do those products fail to help 93% of the time -- even for smokers who actually do want to end nicotine dependence -- they are completely ignored by the millions of smokers who enjoy smoking for reasons beyond nicotine use. Electronic cigarette use -- or "vaping" -- addresses smokers' needs on multiple levels, rather than simply focusing on the nicotine.

Electronic cigarettes are not intended to be used as a nicotine cessation product. They are intended to replace tobacco cigarettes by providing an alternate source of nicotine and mimicking the familiar behaviors associated with smoking, thereby eliminating the user's exposure to smoke and significantly reducing the health concerns related to smoking. By eliminating the cigarette smoke but not requiring the user to give up familiar habits and nicotine, electronic cigarettes are showing significant promise as a highly successful tobacco harm reduction product.

Contrary to what you may have heard, e-cigarettes have been researched, studied and tested; including research on nicotine delivery, toxicity, carcinogens, efficacy for smoking cessation and nicotine content. While it has been generally acknowledged that manufacturing standards need to be established, even the highly publicized and misrepresented analysis by the FDA found that the e-cigarettes it tested did not contain harmful levels of any toxic chemicals or carcinogens. Most medical experts and public health experts agree (or at least grudgingly concede) that the typical electronic cigarette vapor, consisting of water, propylene glycol, glycerin, artificial flavorings and nicotine, would not deliver anywhere near the harmful levels of chemicals and carcinogens that are found in traditional cigarettes. So, while we cannot claim that e-cigarettes are 100% safe (really what is 100% safe in this world?), it would be hard for anyone to argue that the vapor is not infinitely safer than smoke. Therefore, CASAA feels confident recommending e-cigarettes as an acceptable smokeless alternative for smokers who wish to reduce or completely eliminate cigarette smoke exposure.

Take the opportunity to participate in the National Vaping Day 2012. If you are a smoker and haven't tried e-cigarettes yet, there are inexpensive disposable brands, which are available online or even at your local Walgreens -- now is the time to give one a try! If you are already an e-cigarette user, this is a great day to talk about how you made the switch to friends and family who are smokers. Post about it on your social networks. Show a co-working smoker at work your e-cigarette or even a a stranger standing outside in the cold. National Vaping Day is the day to let the world know that you are a vaper!

 

Contacts
To learn more about tobacco alternatives, please visit: www.CASAA.org