The National Household Survey on Drug Abuse (NHSDA) is an annual survey sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). The 2001 data are based on information obtained from 69,000 persons aged 12 or older. The survey collects data by administering questionnaires to a representative sample of the population through face to face interviews at their place of residence.

The NHSDA Report is prepared by the Office of Applied Studies (OAS), SAMHSA, and by RTI in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Information and data for this issue are based on the following publication

Office of Applied Studies. (2002). Results from the 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse Volume I. Summary of national findings (DHHS Publication No. SMA 02 3758, NHSDA Series H 17). Rockville, MD Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

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The best electronic cigarette brands 2014

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Electronic cigarettes are often promoted as the safer and more practical alternative to real cigarettes. Not only do they offer more options in terms of taste, they are also designed not to cause bad breath, health problems and toxicity among those people who use them. In other words, electronic cigarettes are designed to have all the benefits of regular cigarettes without causing any of their negative effects.

What are the long term effects?

Although this is true, what’s also true that we know very little about the actual long term effects of using electronic cigarettes. Since these devices are new to the market, we don’t know enough about them to conclusively say if they’re safe for human use or not and this is the reason bills are being signed to regulate electronic cigarette use.

What we do know, however, is that electronic cigarettes use parts and substance which are safe. But just how safe are they? Are electronic cigarettes safe for everybody? How safer are they from regular cigarettes? Do they have long term side effects?

These are all valid question, and at this point, there’s a very healthy debate going on about this particular topic. However, let’s look strictly at the facts. Electronic cigarettes don’t have the same toxins found on regular cigarettes. In fact, according to a study conducted by the School of Public Health at Drexel University last August 2013, using electronic cigarettes exposes you to a lot fewer toxic compounds than regular cigarettes. What this means, basically, is that the dangers of using regular cigarettes are not the same as using electronic cigarettes. They’re completely different from each other.

Miniature fog machines

Whereas regular cigarettes are designed to burn tobacco, electronic cigarettes are designed to act like miniature fog machines. This is an important point to think about since electronic cigarettes work by heating the vegetable glycerin and food grade glycol, which give the e cigarettes their unique taste. This heating process is what produces the electric cigarette to produce its special vapor, which is quite safe for human consumption.

The question then is, whether or not this heating process is safe for human consumption. To answer this question, it’s important to keep in mind that the mechanism of fog machines are also similar to the ones used by electric cigarettes, but on a much larger scale and since people who work on these machines rarely experience smoke related illnesses, it follows that e cigarettes are also relatively safe. In fact, the only difference between the two is that e cigs use substances which are safe for human consumption as well as a very small amount of nicotine. Aside from these very subtle difference, there’s nothing particularly dangerous about electric cigarettes since their vapors are designed specifically for human consumption.

Conclusion

Yes, the technology and commercial concerns for these devices needs more study, but if past experience is any indication then e cigarettes are safe. So far, no serious short term or long term effects have been observed among users, and it’s worth mentioning that most electronic cigarette brands are now being improved to provide better smoking pleasure. So aside from a few defective brands or fake products, it’s practically safe to say that electronic cigarettes could save millions of lives.

Dr Lynne Dawkins Electronic Cigarettes What we know so far