Document ID: FDA-2014-N-0189-5857
Agency: fda
Document Type: Supporting & Related Material
Title: 
Posted Date: 2014-06-17T04:00Z

Comment Info: =================

General Comment:I am writing as an individual consumer to request an extension of the comment period for the Food and Drug Administration's ("FDA") Proposed Rule Deeming Tobacco Products to be Subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended by the Family Smoking and Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (the "Proposed Rule") published at 79 Fed. Reg. 23,142 and Federal Register No. 2014-09491. On behalf of myself, I am requesting that the comment period for the Proposed Rule be extended by the FDA for an additional 105 days, from its current 75-day period, to 180 days. 

I feel very strongly about e-cigarettes as an alternative to combustible cigarettes. Quite simply, I firmly believe that they saved my life. I wish to provide you with my personal story.

I am 26 years old and  have smoked for over 10+ years and was desperate to stop. I have tried everything from patches to gum, medication to cold turkey. Nothing was successful, I was unable to abstain from tobacco cigarettes. My habit was out of control and I was smoking 2 packs a day everyday. My smoking was in control of my life, I was constantly lighting up one cigarette after another. Coughing and hacking, I was breathing horribly and everyone around me could notice the stench of smoke lingering around me. My yellow smoke stained fingers were a dead give away when shaking someones hand I had just met for the first time. Its embarrassing to have these problems that are so ridiculous, I wanted to stop! But I couldn't. I would smoke a cigarette as soon as my eyes cracked open in the morning. I would smoke a cigarette every time I got in my car, in fact I would light my cigarette before I would put my seat belt on. I would smoke after every meal or snack. I would smoke after doing any activity and most of the time, I was smoking while doing the activity  I would wake up at night to smoke a cigarette even though I just wanted to sleep, but my body needed that cigarette. It was in control of my life. Enough was enough, I was tired of going to the shop everyday to buy smokes. Tired of smoking the nasty cigarettes every few minutes of the long and hazy day. Finally I decided to try Ecigs out. At first I couldn't completely dedicate myself to them, sneaking a cigarette every few hours. But I noticed something, sneaking a cigarette every few hours is very different from how I smoked before Ecigs. I could not go 30 minutes without a cigarette before Ecigs! Now I was grabbing a cigarette every few hours? I was amazed! "Wow, that is so unlike me" I would say to myself and to my family and friends. They encouraged me and congratulated me in my success. As I continued using Ecigs I noticed another change, I can breath clearer then before and I can smell better then before. This made me go without a cigarette even longer. Soon I was down to a few cigarettes a day. Unbelievable! This is working for me! I was very happy at the reduction of my habit and at the end of December 2013, I quit altogether. I have remained smoke free for the entire year of 2014 so far. This is the first time for at least 12 years that I have been smoke free. Vaping Ecigs has dramatically improved my way of life, I can breath, I don't reek of smoke and I can smell and taste things once again. I have saved my hard earned money instead of going to the shop everyday for a pack of smokes as well. I have very strong feelings for Ecigs, they are wonderful and I would be absolutely crushed if something happens so that I can't use them anymore. Many people are turning to Ecigs for a reason, they help. It's simple as that....They help. I have faith in my country to do what is right and not take away our right to use Ecigs. I can most certainly agree that some safety is necessary, I completely agree. But I do not want this fantastic industry to be completely overhauled and changed. Please, as an American citizen we have the right and the freedom to choose to use Ecigs or tobacco cigarettes. My choice and millions of others have chosen Ecigs for a healthier alternative to smoking, don't cast our freedom away.... Please.

I appreciate your consideration for my request and I hope we can come to an understanding that is mutually accepted. 
Thank you.